Highlighting the glaring vulnerabilities in India’s passport issuance process, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a passport verification officer and an agent after discovering that seven passports were fraudulently issued using forged identity documents. Alarmingly, five out of the seven individuals have already left the country, triggering heightened security concerns.
The CBI presented both accused before a court on Wednesday, seeking custodial remand to further probe their roles in enabling unidentified individuals to obtain fresh passports through Tatkaal mode—a fast-track service typically reserved for urgent travel needs.
The court granted CBI custody until June 2, underlining the gravity of the offense, which not only involves document forgery and bribery but also poses a threat to national security, especially given that the identities of the passport holders remain unverified.
Forged Aadhaar, PAN, and ECNR Passports: How the Racket Operated
According to the remand application filed by the CBI, the arrested accused facilitated passport issuance for seven individuals falsely identifying themselves as:
- Raj Pareshkumar Prajapati
- Sameer Parvez Shaikh
- Mumtaz Parvez Shaikh
- Nipa Tushar Shah
- Roshni Shah
- Tushar Prakash Shah
- Jay Vishnubhai Prajapati
The forged applications were supported by fake Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, bank statements, and birth certificates. What makes the matter even more serious is that three of the passports—Nipa Tushar Shah, Tushar Prakash Shah, and Jay Vishnubhai Prajapati—were issued in ECNR mode (Emigration Check Not Required), potentially allowing these individuals to travel freely to specific foreign countries without additional scrutiny.
The scam exploited the Tatkaal service, designed to expedite passport issuance in legitimate emergency cases, thereby bypassing deeper scrutiny of documents.
WhatsApp Chats, Bribe Trail, and Systemic Gaps: The Investigation So Far
The investigation began in July last year, when the CBI—working in coordination with Regional Passport Office (RPO) Mumbai and the Vigilance Department—conducted surprise inspections at Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) centres in Malad and Lower Parel. These inspections were part of a larger audit aimed at identifying irregularities in the passport issuance process.
One of the arrested individuals, Akshay Meena, served as a verification officer at the Lower Parel PSK. According to investigators, Meena had regular contact with external agents and received illegal payments to approve applications with fraudulent documents.
CBI’s digital forensic team recovered WhatsApp chats between Meena and other accused, which revealed discussions about payments, forged documentation, and coordinated activities relating to the seven fraudulent passport applications. Officials believe the scam may be part of a larger network, and the investigation is likely to expand in the coming weeks.
Passport Security Breach Underscores Urgent Need for Reforms
The exposure of this passport scam involving forged documents, bribery, and misuse of the Tatkaal service has once again drawn attention to systemic vulnerabilities in the passport issuance process. The fact that five out of seven passport holders have already left India underscores the urgency of strengthening background verification protocols, especially for fast-track services.
The CBI’s ongoing probe—bolstered by digital evidence and agency coordination—is expected to trace more officials, agents, and possibly end users involved in this breach. As India continues to digitize its public service delivery, the case also serves as a stark reminder of the risks of insider collusion and data integrity challenges.