A visa consultant in Ahmedabad has lodged a cheating complaint against a Canada-based individual, his father, and his father-in-law, accusing them of defrauding him of Rs 98.2 lakh by supplying forged Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) documents. The fraudulent documents led to the rejection of work permit applications for four clients.
Background of the Case
The complainant, who operates a visa consultancy firm in the Satellite area of Ahmedabad, stated that he was introduced to the accused individuals in 2023. The primary accused, a native of Sargasan in Gandhinagar, along with his father, claimed to specialize in processing Canadian work permits through LMIA approvals. They assured the consultant of a high success rate, which initially seemed credible.
Initial Success and Growing Trust
The complainant initially entrusted the accused with two immigration files, which were processed successfully. This outcome built confidence, prompting the consultant to refer four additional clients to them. Between August 2023 and November 2023, the consultant allegedly paid Rs 98.2 lakh in multiple installments, both in cash and through associates, for the four clients.
Mode of Payment
A portion of the money was handed over to the father of the primary accused in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. Other payments were allegedly made to the primary accused in Canada, as well as to his father-in-law. The accused subsequently provided LMIA approval letters and assured the consultant that the work permit applications would be cleared without any issues.
Rejection of Applications
Despite repeated submissions, the work permit applications were rejected. Suspecting foul play, the complainant obtained Global Case Management System and embassy records on the rejected applications. These records revealed that the LMIA approvals provided by the accused were not genuine. The names of applicants had been altered in the LMIA records, and the documents used to support the visa applications were fabricated.
Legal Action
The complainant further alleged that despite repeated demands, neither did the accused process valid work permits nor did they refund the money paid for the four clients. The police have registered a case against the primary accused, who is currently in Canada, along with his father and father-in-law, for cheating, criminal breach of trust, and forgery.
