A case of alleged fraud has surfaced in Vadodara’s Sayajigunj area, where a visa consultant has been accused of cheating a man of ₹1.5 lakh on the pretext of arranging a Russia work visa. The consultant reportedly shut down his office and went missing after failing to provide the promised visa documents, prompting police action.
According to the complaint, the victim, Niranjan Chauhan, a resident of Tilaknagar in the Gotri area, approached a visa consultancy named “V World Visa” located in the Phoenix Complex in December 2024. He was seeking assistance to obtain a work visa for Russia.
The complaint states that the office operator, identified as Viral Dineshbhai Shah, assured the victim that the work visa would be processed and delivered within 60 days. Trusting this assurance, the complainant paid ₹1.5 lakh as service charges for the visa process.
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Delays, Evasions, and Sudden Disappearance
However, even after the promised timeline had passed, the visa was not provided. The accused allegedly began avoiding the complainant and failed to give any clear explanation regarding the delay or progress of the application. When the victim demanded a refund, communication was reportedly cut off completely.
The situation escalated when the victim found that the consultancy office had been locked and the operator was untraceable. This raised suspicion that the entire operation may have been a pre-planned fraudulent scheme targeting job seekers aspiring to go abroad.
Following this, a formal complaint was lodged with the local police. The complainant alleged that the accused had deliberately misled him with false assurances and collected money without initiating any genuine visa processing procedure.
Police Case and Preliminary Investigation
Police officials said that a case has been registered under relevant sections of cheating and criminal breach of trust. Preliminary investigation suggests that the accused may have allegedly duped other individuals in a similar manner using the promise of overseas employment and work visas.
Authorities are currently tracking the accused and examining possible locations where he may be hiding. Financial transactions, including bank records linked to the case, are also being scrutinised to determine the flow of money and identify additional victims, if any.
Investigators believe that the scam could extend beyond a single complaint, with indications that more people may have been targeted using similar false promises. Efforts are underway to verify whether the accused operated alone or was part of a wider network involved in visa-related fraud.
The case has once again highlighted growing concerns over unregulated visa consultancy services, where individuals are often misled with guaranteed job and visa promises in exchange for hefty payments. Local residents have expressed concern over such incidents, stating that several agents misuse the demand for overseas employment opportunities.
Potential Larger Network and Public Warnings
Police have urged the public to remain cautious and verify the authenticity of visa consultants before making any financial commitments. They have advised that all overseas employment and visa applications should be processed only through authorised and verified channels.
As of now, the accused remains absconding, and search operations are ongoing. Police teams are continuing efforts to trace him and recover the defrauded amount, while further complaints from potential victims are not being ruled out.
