CBI books 24 in fake passport scam, raids 50 locations in West Bengal, Gangtok

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday conducted raids at more than 50 spots in West Bengal and Sikkim, including Kolkata, Siliguri, Darjeeling, and Gangtok, in connection with the fake passport scam.

The crime probe agency arrested a senior superintendent at the Gangtok Passport Seva Kendra, Gautam Kumar Saha, and a hotel agent with Rs 1,90,000 in his possession for illegally issuing passports with forged and fake documents for middlemen.
Officials also filed a case against 24 individuals.

The FIR names 24 individuals, including 16 officials, who were allegedly issuing passports on the basis of forged documents to ineligible persons, including non-residents, in return for bribes, officials said.

The searches are spread across Kolkata, Siliguri, Gangtok, and other locations, they said.