Ahmedabad: At least 34 pilgrims have allegedly been defrauded by a tour operator from Juhapura in a visa scam connected to a religious trip to Saudi Arabia. The airport police registered a complaint regarding the matter on Friday.
Background of the Case
According to the 26-year-old complainant from Morbi, he had known the accused since 2019 when they met in Saudi Arabia. The complainant stated that the accused had previously arranged visas for a group traveling for religious purposes and had assured him that he could secure visas for Saudi Arabia and other holy sites.
Details of the Fraud
The complainant alleged that in February 2025, he contacted the accused to arrange visas for 34 family members planning a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. The accused allegedly promised to complete the visa process within two to three days and quoted a fee of Rs 12,500 per person.
Relying on this assurance, the complainant said he booked flight tickets for the group through travel agencies, spending Rs 10.25 lakh. He also sent passport copies of all travelers and later transferred Rs 4.15 lakh towards visa processing charges.
Failure to Deliver Visas
However, the promised visas were not delivered on time. Instead, the accused allegedly kept making excuses and asked the group to arrive at Ahmedabad airport on the scheduled departure date, assuring them that he would bring the visas. At the airport, the complainant alleged that only PDF copies of 12 visas were sent via WhatsApp. Upon verification by airport staff, the visas were found to be fake. Consequently, the pilgrims could not travel as planned and returned home after waiting for several hours.
Subsequent Travel and Threats
The complaint further stated that visas were later arranged and fresh flight tickets booked, after which the group completed the pilgrimage. However, after their return, the accused allegedly demanded an additional Rs 1.5 lakh over the phone and threatened that they would not be allowed to leave the airport if the amount was not paid.
Investigation Underway
Following the incident, the complainant approached the airport police, who have initiated an investigation into the matter.
