In a shocking case of fraud from Punjab's Kapurthala district, a man has alleged that his own relatives, posing as travel agents, duped him of over Rs 44 lakh with false promises of legal migration to the United States. The victim, after a harrowing journey through multiple countries and months in detention, was ultimately deported back to India, having never legally entered the US.
The Deceptive Promise and Financial Drain
Jagtar Singh, a taxi driver from Jainpur village in Sultanpur Lodhi, filed a detailed complaint with the Kapurthala Police on July 30, 2025. He stated that his relatives, Joga Singh and his wife from Masitan village, along with two others, assured him of legal migration to the US via a direct flight. The deal was finalized in July 2024 for a total of Rs 50 lakh, with the amount to be paid only after visa issuance.
However, the complainant was soon shown a copy of a visa and pressured to start payments. Police investigation revealed that on September 5, 2024, Jagtar Singh transferred Rs 8 lakh to an account belonging to Jagjit Singh Bhullar of VarisProperty Linkers. A further Rs 1 lakh was paid in cash the next day. Subsequent payments, made in cash and through relatives, brought the total sum paid to a staggering Rs 44.15 lakh, which he had arranged from various family members.
A Perilous Illegal Route and Detention
Instead of the promised direct flight, Jagtar Singh's ordeal began in September 2024 with a trip from Delhi to France, then to Spain, and later to El Salvador. From there, he was moved through treacherous forest routes and makeshift camps across Central America and Mexico. He alleged that associates of the agents confiscated the dollars he was carrying, repeatedly demanded more money, and threatened to abandon him en route if payments were not arranged.
After months of harsh conditions moving between camps, his attempt to cross into the US from Mexico failed. US authorities arrested him in December 2024 and lodged him in a detention camp. He remained there until his deportation to India, finally returning on July 18, 2025. In total, he spent nearly ten-and-a-half months—around three and a half months in transit and seven months in detention.
Police Action and Legal Repercussions
After returning, Jagtar Singh demanded his money back from the agents, but they ignored, refused, and even threatened him, prompting him to approach the police. Following a thorough inquiry that recorded statements from the complainant, witnesses, bank officials, and local residents, the Kapurthala police found the accused were not registered under the Punjab Travel Professionals (Regulation) Act, 2014 and had misled the victim.
Based on the inquiry and legal opinion from the Deputy District Attorney, the Senior Superintendent of Police, Kapurthala, directed the registration of a case. Consequently, an FIR was registered on January 5, 2026. The case has been filed under relevant sections including 316 (2), 318 (4), 351 (2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 13 of the Punjab Travel Professionals (Regulation) Act, 2014. Police stated that further investigation is ongoing and the role of other persons will be examined.
This case highlights the persistent menace of unregistered travel agents in Punjab luring aspirants with false promises, despite a sharp rise in deportations by the US and repeated advisories by Indian authorities. Jagtar Singh's only demand now is for the police to arrest the accused and recover his hard-earned money.
