A family in Uttar Pradesh’s Rampur district has alleged that it lost ₹21 lakh after trusting a group that promised to arrange a UK study visa for their son and help complete the financing process for his higher education.
Police in Milak have registered a case against seven people following a complaint by Aqeel Ahmed, a resident of Naya Gaon Jalif Nagla. The complainant has alleged that the accused not only failed to secure the promised visa but also obtained control over a bank account opened in his son Aqib’s name.
Investigators are now examining the account, banking documents and transfers allegedly made during the process.
FCRF Launches CP-FRM to Build India’s Next Generation of Fraud Risk Professionals
₹21 Lakh Allegedly Sought for UK Study Visa
According to the complaint, Aqib wanted to travel to the UK for higher education and required a study visa.
His father alleged that during the process, the family came into contact with Gurumukh Singh, a resident of Chincholi. Gurumukh allegedly told the family that around ₹21 lakh would be required to complete the visa process.
The family agreed, believing that the money would be used for Aqib’s overseas education and related formalities.
But the complaint alleges that no visa was eventually arranged and the money was not returned.
Police have booked Gurumukh along with Balwinder Singh, Surjit Singh, Karan Singh, Simranjit Kaur, Kirandeep Kaur and Hardeep Singh. The allegations against them are under investigation and have not been established in court.
Bank Account Opened in Student’s Name
The most serious part of the complaint concerns the handling of Aqib’s bank account.
Aqeel alleged that a new account was opened in his son’s name on the pretext that it was required for preparing a loan file and processing the study visa.
After the account was opened, its passbook, cheque book, signed cheques and ATM card were allegedly retained by the accused.
The family claims that the account was then used for purposes unrelated to Aqib’s education and that money was deposited and transferred through different accounts.
Hindustan reported that the complainant alleged money was transferred into accounts connected with some of the people now named in the FIR. Police are examining those transactions as part of the investigation.
The allegation is significant because giving another person control of signed cheques, an ATM card or banking credentials can effectively allow them to operate the account without the account holder directly authorising every transaction.
Investigators will therefore need to establish who controlled the account, who initiated individual transactions and where the money ultimately went.
Family Alleges Visa Never Arrived and Money Was Not Returned
Aqeel told police that the family continued to expect the visa process to be completed after making the payment.
According to the complaint, however, Aqib was never sent to the UK and the family was unable to recover the money allegedly paid for the process.
The complainant further alleged that when the family demanded its money back, the accused delayed repayment and threatened them with serious consequences and false cases. These claims remain allegations that police will have to verify.
The complaint also alleges that the principal accused was operating an immigration or visa-related business without a valid licence and that the operation was being used to collect money from people seeking to travel abroad.
Police have not yet publicly established the full nature or legal status of the alleged business.
Police Examine Transactions and Possible Previous Cases
The investigation is expected to rely heavily on banking records.
Account statements can help establish when the ₹21 lakh was transferred, which accounts received the money and whether funds were subsequently moved elsewhere.
Police are also likely to examine the documents used during the alleged visa and loan process, including any forms, receipts, agreements or communication exchanged between the family and the accused.
According to the complaint reported by Hindustan, Gurumukh had previously faced cases at Transit Camp police station in Udham Singh Nagar and Bhuta police station in Bareilly. Any connection between those cases and the present allegations will have to be independently established by investigators.
No finding of guilt has yet been made against any of the seven people named in the current case.
The investigation will now focus on whether the money was genuinely collected for visa and education-related services or whether, as the complainant alleges, the overseas education promise was used to obtain control of the student’s bank account and move funds for other purposes.
What this means for you
Never hand over signed blank cheques, an ATM card, PINs or control of a bank account to a visa or education consultant. Payments for overseas admission or visa services should be documented and independently verified with the university, lender and official visa authorities before large sums are transferred.
Follow for daily updates on cybercrime, corporate fraud, DFIR, hacking, investigations, and digital forensics
