Major Passport Fraud Uncovered in Madhya Pradesh; 70 Fake Passports Seized
Madhya Pradesh STF reveals a major passport fraud, arresting six suspects and uncovering a network behind 70 fake passports.
Bhopal, September 25 (Daily Kiran) : The Madhya Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has uncovered a significant passport fraud operation, seizing approximately 70 counterfeit passports. These documents were allegedly created using various addresses across the state. Investigators are now looking into the potential involvement of a larger network and possible collusion among officials.
STF Deputy Inspector General Rahul Lodha announced on Friday that six suspects have been arrested so far as the investigation continues to identify the full extent of the operation. “This is a multi-layered case, and the investigation is ongoing,” Lodha stated, noting that the most recent arrest occurred on September 23.
The latest suspect apprehended is Gayaprasad Gautam. Prior to his arrest, five others were taken into custody between August 25 and September 18, including Riyal Chaudhary, also known as Bhante Metanand, Biplab Adhikari, Priyan Roy, Joy Chaudhary, and Naseem Akhtar.
The investigation has revealed a troubling pattern: passport applications frequently used addresses associated with Buddhist monasteries. Cases have emerged from Bhopal, Betul, Chhindwara, Dabra, and Pahurna.
The STF has identified 40 cases linked to Anand Nagar in Bhopal, 17 from Dabra, 11 from the Amla Buddhist monastery in Betul, and two from Chhindwara-Pahurna.
A significant trend has also emerged regarding the use of witnesses. Of the 70 fake passports discovered, around 50 involved three individuals—Gayaprasad Gautam, Gulab Rai, and Riyal Chaudhary—who acted as witnesses. Their mobile numbers were found listed on numerous passport applications.
The repeated use of the same monastery addresses and witnesses has become a crucial focus of the investigation. The STF is also probing how these passport applications were processed.
Lodha explained, “The accused utilized monastery addresses in Bhopal, Betul, Chhindwara, Dabra, and Pahurna to obtain passports. The inquiry has also revealed that some officials and staff may have assisted in the passport creation, and their roles are under scrutiny.”
Connections among key suspects have also come to light. Investigators found that Gulab Rai met Riyal Chaudhary during a camp in Amla, Betul, and later again at a camp in Jhansi. In 2022, Gulab Rai participated in another camp at Ambedkar Park in Dabra.
The investigation has expanded to six states—Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Punjab—where STF teams are actively tracking down suspected members of the network. Lodha confirmed, “We have identified 75 suspects so far. The repeated use of the same witness and monastery addresses was the pattern that led to the uncovering of this racket.”
