Bathinda: Punjab Police has arrested an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) sarpanch in connection with an alleged ₹36 lakh visa fraud case involving promises of sending a student abroad. According to police, Manpreet Kaur, sarpanch of Hero Kalan village in Mansa district, allegedly took money from a Barnala resident after assuring him that his son would be sent overseas on a student visa. A case has also been registered against immigration firm operator Sony and his sister Sukhjit Kaur. Police are now investigating the alleged network and checking whether more people were cheated through a similar modus operandi.
According to police, Barnala resident Avtar Singh had filed a complaint stating that he wanted to send his son Jaspinder Singh abroad for higher education. During this process, he was introduced to Sony, who allegedly operated an immigration firm. The complainant told police that Sony claimed to have already helped hundreds of youths, especially those seeking to travel to Canada, and assured that he could arrange a student visa for Jaspinder.
The complaint stated that the accused allegedly collected ₹36 lakh from Avtar Singh, including expenses related to the college admission and visa process. However, despite receiving the money, the visa was allegedly not arranged and the process of sending his son abroad did not move forward. When the complainant demanded a refund, he allegedly did not receive any satisfactory response from the accused persons.
Police said the complainant also alleged that the accused family had assured him that a piece of land would be transferred as security if the youth was not sent abroad. However, according to the complaint, neither was the land transferred nor was the money returned. Following this, Avtar Singh approached the police, leading to the registration of a case and further investigation.
Based on the complaint and preliminary inquiry, police registered a case against Sony, his wife Manpreet Kaur and sister Sukhjit Kaur under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The charges include cheating, criminal breach of trust and criminal conspiracy. Police arrested Manpreet Kaur on Wednesday, while the main accused Sony is yet to be arrested.
Investigators are now examining whether other individuals may have also been cheated through the alleged immigration firm. Police are verifying bank transactions, payment records, visa-related documents and claims made by the accused persons during the investigation. Officials said that if the involvement of any additional person comes to light, further legal action will be taken.
Cases of fraud related to overseas education and employment have increased in recent years, with fraudsters often using fake documents, misleading profiles, false claims of successful foreign placements and attractive promises to gain the confidence of victims. Many victims transfer large amounts without independently verifying the credentials of agents or immigration firms.
Experts at the Future Crime Research Foundation (FCRF) said that people planning to travel abroad for education or employment should verify the legal status and track record of immigration consultants before making any payment. They advised applicants to independently confirm admission documents, institutional approvals, visa-related procedures and payment records to avoid falling victim to fraud.
Cybersecurity and fraud prevention experts also highlighted that digital platforms and social media are increasingly being used by fraudulent immigration operators to create a false image of credibility. They advised people to remain cautious of agents promising guaranteed visas or overseas placements in exchange for large upfront payments.
Police officials said the investigation is currently underway and the arrested accused is being questioned to gather details about the entire operation. Further investigation will determine the number of people involved in the alleged fraud and the total amount of money collected through the suspected scheme.
