Shimla Police Apprehend Woman in Major Canadian Visa Fraud Case
In a significant breakthrough, the Shimla police on Monday announced the arrest of a woman from Kharar in Punjab's SAS Nagar district. The accused is alleged to have duped a Shimla resident of a substantial sum of Rs 25 lakh by falsely promising to arrange a Canadian visa.
FIR Registered for Cheating and Criminal Conspiracy
The case originated with an FIR registered on November 21 last year at the Boileauganj police station. The charges included cheating, criminal intimidation, and criminal conspiracy. According to the official complaint, the accused assured the complainant that she would facilitate the visa and overseas arrangements for his sister, Bhavana, to travel to Canada. Under this pretext, she fraudulently collected the hefty amount of Rs 25 lakh.
Intensive Police Raids and Evasive Tactics
Following the registration of the case, police teams launched extensive raids across Punjab and Haryana to track down the suspects. However, the accused managed to evade capture by employing clever tactics. She reportedly remained absconding, frequently switching mobile SIM cards and relying on WhatsApp calls to avoid detection by authorities.
Technical Surveillance Leads to Arrest
After conducting intensive technical surveillance, a special police team successfully raided a flat located in Shivalik City, Kharar, on February 22. During this operation, they arrested the accused, who has been identified as Manju Kumari. The police stated that she lured the victim under false pretenses and committed the fraud.
Ongoing Investigation and Legal Proceedings
The Shimla police have confirmed that further investigation is currently underway to uncover additional details and possibly link the accused to other similar frauds. This arrest highlights the growing issue of visa-related scams and the sophisticated methods used by fraudsters to exploit individuals seeking opportunities abroad.
