Hyderabad: The Commissioner’s Task Force busted a travel agency racket and arrested two persons on Wednesday. Police seized Rs 47,000 cash, rubber stamps and fake letterheads among other evidence.
The arrested persons have been identified as 49-year-old Syed Younus from Champapet and 42-year-old Md. Jafferuddin from Kalapathar. Police said Syed Younus visited Saudi Arabia and South Korea several times and became familiar with travel procedure. Younus planned to do the visa processing and documentation for other travellers for a fee.
However, he did not possess any valid travel agency license and made fake letterheads, stamps and fake travel stickers on bona fide travel agencies’ names. He then started sending people from India to South Korea on tourist and visiting visa. Jaffaruddin was appointed by Younus to get applicants and the duo charged customers Rs 3 to 4 lakh, police said.
The duo also advised travellers to overstay in South Korea with the intention of getting Alien Registration Card (ARC) and avail benefits from the Korean government, police said. They also arranged refugee cards for Indians to remain in South Korea for further employment.
Some of the duo’s customers were deported by the Korean immigration authorities. Officials seized 16 rubber stamps, a laptop, a printer, fake company letterheads, 2 cell phones and Rs 47,500 cash from their possession. A case has been registered against the accused at Shalibanda PS.