230 Indians, including 170 Gujaratis, stranded in UAE over illegal US entry scheme
Sharjah: A failed attempt to enter the United States illegally has left 230 Indians, including 170 Gujaratis, stranded in Sharjah, UAE. The group, comprising families, was lured by agents promising a chartered flight from Dubai to Brazil, followed by a land crossing into the US through Mexico.
Sources revealed that the operation, orchestrated by several agents, was disrupted, leaving the hopeful migrants in limbo. The stranded individuals, which include around 60 people from Delhi and Punjab, are currently staying at the Dana Hotel in Sharjah.
Among the agents implicated are Sameer, Dhaval, and Hasmukh, the latter reportedly a financier based in Dubai. Other agents referred to as Paji, Thakur Saheb, and RK are also under investigation for coordinating the operation.
According to sources, the agents collected ₹3 crore in advance to book a chartered flight, initially scheduled to depart Dubai on December 11 but postponed to December 20 due to concerns over border conditions between Mexico and the US. Despite delays and lack of flight route details, the agents assured the passengers they would reach the US before President-elect Donald Trump assumes office.
The issue follows a similar incident on December 26, 2023, when a chartered flight carrying suspected illegal immigrants from India was intercepted at France's Vatry Airport. The passengers were sent back to Mumbai.
Illegal immigration agents have allegedly been using various routes, including charter flights from Dubai, Uzbekistan, and Libya, to facilitate such operations. However, increased international crackdowns have led to disruptions, stranding many migrants in Dubai.
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Punjab: CBI arrests 3 men in Rs 13-lakh bribery case involving Vigilance dept after midnight chase
New Delhi (PTI): In a late-night raid at the Punjab Vigilance office in Mohali followed by a dramatic chase, the CBI arrested two middlemen and another person in a Rs 13-lakh bribery case involving senior officers of the department, officials said.
The CBI took the action after registering an FIR on a complaint of a Punjab State Tax Officer, who had accused Vikas Goyal and his son Raghav Goyal of demanding illegal gratification of Rs 20 Lakh for securing the closure of a complaint against him in the office of DG (Vigilance), Punjab.
"Further, it was alleged that both the accused were acting as intermediaries for senior Vigilance officials including the Reader to DGP Vigilance, Punjab and were using their influence to assure the complainant that his matter could be settled. O. P. Rana, the reader to DG Vigilance assured him for closure of the complaint once illegal gratification is paid," a CBI spokesperson said in a statement.
Prima facie, the investigation reveals active involvement of Rana in the conspiracy, she said.
According to the statement, during negotiations, the accused reduced the demand from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 13 lakh along with one Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 mobile phone for Rana.
After getting confirmation about the bribe exchange, a CBI team raided a place in Chandigarh, where an associate of the accused, Ankit Wadhwa, was arrested while accepting a bribe of Rs 13 lakh and a mobile phone on their behalf, the spokesperson said.
"The bribe amount and mobile phone were recovered during the trap proceedings," the statement read.
As it happened, Raghav Goyal, Vikas Goyal, and Rana ran away after being alerted by their gunmen stationed there to keep a watch.
The CBI team began a hot pursuit and after a dramatic chase, nabbed Raghav, Vikas and apprehended two gunmen near Ambala at the Punjab-Haryana border, the spokesperson said.
"Rana, reader to DGP Vigilance, is still absconding and efforts are being made to arrest him," she said.
Searches at the residential premises of Goyals at Malout and Rana at Chandigarh, led to recovery of Rs 9 lakh in cash and incriminating documents, the spokesperson said.
The CBI investigation exposed an exchange of "sensitive information" relating to pending vigilance matters between Rana and Goyals.
"The wider conspiracy, including possible illegal gratification nexus and the role of other persons, is under investigation. The accused private persons were given police gunmen officially. The role and attachment of Punjab Police gunmen carrying AK-47 rifles with the private accused persons is also being examined," the spokesperson said.
