GUWAHATI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has reportedly unearthed a passport racket operating in the states of Sikkim and West Bengal, launching simultaneous raids at around 50 locations, reports stated on Saturday. As part of this operation, a senior superintendent associated with the Passport Seva Laghu Kendras (PSLK) in Siliguri has been apprehended, in addition to an alleged middleman.
The CBI's action follows the registration of a case against a total of 24 individuals, which includes government officials. These individuals are suspected of issuing passports to ineligible applicants based on falsified documentation. According to reports, this was done in exchange for bribes.
Of the 24 individuals named in the First Information Report (FIR), 16 are government officials who are alleged to have facilitated the issuance of passports to individuals who were not eligible. This included those who were not residents, and the entire process was reportedly fuelled by corrupt practices.
The ongoing search operations extend across various locations including Kolkata, Siliguri, Gangtok, and more. The CBI had obtained verified information that a private individual, in collusion with government officials, had established a network dedicated to securing passports based on fraudulent documentation, as per reports.
Furthermore, the agency has reportedly seized documents that reveal the involvement of government officials in this extensive racket.