Police have registered a criminal case against three residents of Jalandhar for allegedly defrauding a Phagwara-area resident of Rs 41 lakh under the pretext of sending his family members to Canada. The action followed a formal complaint lodged by Jasvir Singh, a resident of Ranipur Rajputa village near Phagwara, who reported that the suspects took the money after promising to arrange overseas travel and immigration for his relatives. Investigators have initiated proceedings to trace the financial transactions and establish the individual roles of the accused.
Complaint Prompts Police Inquiry into Overseas Travel Deal
According to a report published by The Tribune, the complainant alleged that the three accused approached him with assurances that they could facilitate the relocation of his family to Canada. Persuaded by claims that the travel opportunity was legitimate, Singh reportedly paid a total sum of Rs 41 lakh to the group. Following the receipt of the complaint, police conducted a preliminary inquiry to examine the dealings between the parties before formally booking the three men.
The accused have been identified as Satpal Kaul, Ashok Kumar, and Rajesh Kumar, all residents of Jalandhar. Police registered the case after scrutinizing the material gathered during the initial inquiry. Authorities noted that the filing of the case does not by itself confirm guilt, and further legal steps will depend entirely on the evidence gathered as the investigation progresses.
Criminal Breach of Trust and Cheating Charges Invoked
Police have invoked Sections 406 and 420 of the Indian Penal Code, alongside Section 13 of the Punjab Travel Professionals Regulation Act, 2014. Section 406 pertains to criminal breach of trust, while Section 420 addresses cheating and dishonestly inducing the delivery of property.
The application of the Punjab Travel Professionals Regulation Act directs the inquiry toward verifying whether the suspects operated in violation of statutory rules governing immigration and travel services. Investigators will scrutinize whether the men possessed the authority or legitimate documentation required to offer foreign travel consultancy and visa assistance.
Investigators Focus on Money Trail and Accused’s Roles
A primary focus of the ongoing probe involves tracking the flow of the Rs 41 lakh allegedly collected from the complainant. Detectives are currently analyzing available financial records and payment channels to determine how the funds were transferred and where they were subsequently routed.
The investigation will also assess whether the commitments made regarding Canadian visas and immigration were supported by genuine documentation or authorized channels. Police are working to establish whether the three Jalandhar residents acted jointly to secure the money, with further proceedings set to rely strictly on the evidentiary findings.
