Fake passport racket busted helping illegal Afghans across 4 states; Kingpin arrested

The communally sensitive city of Akola in eastern Maharashtra has been identified as a key hub in a sophisticated, inter-state fake passport racket allegedly run by an Afghan national. The Madhya Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested the alleged kingpin, Sohbat Khan, along with five other individuals, uncovering a network that spanned Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, and Chhattisgarh. According to sources, a religious place in Akola was used as a covert meeting point for Afghans living illegally in India, where the racket's operations were planned.

The investigation, which initially focused on three states, took a crucial turn during Sohbat Khan's interrogation, revealing Akola's pivotal role. Khan, who had previously lived in Akola before settling in Jabalpur, is accused of masterminding a scheme to provide Indian passports to illegal Afghan immigrants. He first created forged documents for himself, including a fake birth certificate and residential proof, to fraudulently obtain an Indian passport in 2020, along with other identity cards. He then replicated this modus operandi for other Afghans.

The racket's operations were extensive and involved a network of accomplices. The ATS has arrested a forest guard, Dinesh Garg, and a man who impersonated a lawyer, Chandan Thakur, for their roles in preparing and pushing through the fake applications. The gang also managed to "hack" the passport delivery system by bribing postmen to intercept the documents. So far, the ATS has concrete evidence that at least three Afghans, including two from West Bengal, successfully obtained Indian passports through this racket, with 15-17 more applications still in process.