In the heart of Delhi’s Seelampur neighbourhood, a group of 19 Nepalese nationals thought they had secured a pathway to better prospects abroad. Instead, they became victims of an elaborate visa fraud scheme that police say was meticulously orchestrated and financially devastating.
Last April, 22-year-old Sujan Khadka and 18 of his compatriots were introduced to a man identified as Jayakab. He promised them steady employment in Serbia, assuring them that he would manage the formalities of paperwork and travel. To bolster his credibility, he displayed scanned copies of supposed Serbian employment visas and job offer letters, documents that investigators later determined to be fabricated.
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By May, Jayakab had reportedly taken possession of the group’s Nepali passports, demanding €3,500 from each individual for what he described as visa processing. Believing their future lay in his hands, the victims collectively transferred the equivalent of ₹70 lakh.
A Web of Promises and Betrayal
Police said the victims travelled from Nepal to Delhi in July, expecting to receive their passports and visas before continuing on to Serbia. Instead, they found themselves stranded in low-cost lodges across the capital. Weeks passed with no clarity. When they eventually tracked Jayakab to his Seelampur residence, they were met not with answers but threats, according to investigators.
The situation escalated on August 22, when Khadka filed a formal complaint with the Delhi Police Crime Branch (Eastern Range). Officers say they arrested Jayakab, 41, from Noida earlier this week, recovering falsified documents allegedly used to defraud the victims.
Expanding the Investigation
During interrogation, Jayakab named several associates, including men identified as Sachin, George, also known as Bijoj, and Rupesh. On Tuesday, police arrested Rupesh in Trishul Colony, Chhawla, while efforts to locate the remaining accused continue.
Delhi Police officials said the case underscores both the growing sophistication of cross-border fraud operations and the vulnerabilities of migrant workers seeking opportunities abroad. One officer remarked that these scams prey on desperation and trust, noting that the victims had been convinced by convincing digital forgeries.
For the 19 men, most of them in their twenties, the episode represents more than a financial setback. It is a story of dashed hopes, precarious survival in an unfamiliar city, and the long wait for justice.