Introduction: In a significant development, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has conducted further searches in an ongoing investigation concerning corruption allegations at Mumbai’s Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs). The raids, carried out on 30th June and 1st July 2024, have resulted in the recovery of approximately ₹1.59 crore in cash and other incriminating materials, including five diaries and digital evidence. This article delves into the details of the investigation, the allegations, and the findings so far.
Background of the Investigation: The CBI registered 12 cases on 28th June 2024 against 14 officials, including Passport Assistants and Senior Passport Assistants at the PSKs in Lower Parel and Malad, Mumbai. Additionally, 18 passport facilitation agents and touts have been implicated. The officials, working under the Regional Passport Office (RPO) Mumbai, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India, are accused of colluding with these agents to issue passports based on inadequate or manipulated documents.
Joint Surprise Checks and Findings: The investigation was initiated following Joint Surprise Checks (JSC) conducted by the CBI on 26th June 2024, at the PSKs in Lower Parel and Malad. These checks were carried out in collaboration with the Vigilance Officers of the Passport Seva Programme (PSP) Division, MEA, and officers of RPO Mumbai. During these checks, the office desks and mobile phones of the suspect officers were scrutinized. Analysis of documents, social media chats, and Unified Payments Interface (UPI) ID activities revealed suspicious transactions indicating the demand and acceptance of undue advantages.
Recent Searches and Recoveries: On 30th June and 1st July 2024, the CBI conducted searches at the office and residence of another passport agent in Mumbai. These searches led to the recovery of approximately ₹1.59 crore in cash and various incriminating materials, including five diaries and digital evidence. These findings further corroborate the allegations of corruption and collusion between the officials and the agents. Previously, on 29th June 2024, the CBI had conducted searches at 33 locations belonging to the accused public servants and private persons in Mumbai and Nashik. These searches resulted in the seizure of several incriminating documents and digital evidence related to passport issuance.
Modus Operandi: The investigation has revealed that the suspect officers at PSKs, in connivance with passport facilitation agents, were allegedly receiving significant monetary advantages either directly in their own bank accounts or in the accounts of their family members. These transactions were often carried out to facilitate the issuance of passports based on fake or inadequate documents. The involvement of social media chats and UPI transactions indicates a sophisticated network of corruption and bribery.
Conclusion: The CBI’s ongoing investigation into the alleged corruption at Mumbai’s Passport Seva Kendras has uncovered substantial evidence pointing to a collusive network involving officials and passport agents. The recent recovery of ₹1.59 crore in cash and other incriminating materials marks a significant step in this probe. As the investigation continues, more revelations are expected, highlighting the need for stringent measures to curb corruption in public services. The CBI’s actions underscore its commitment to upholding integrity within government institutions and ensuring that those involved in corrupt practices are brought to justice.
Central Bureau of Investigation
CBI CONDUCTS FURTHER SEARCHES AND RECOVERS 1.59 CRORE CASH (APPROX) AND OTHER INCRIMINATING MATERIAL IN A CASE REGISTERED AGAINST SOME OFFICIALS OF MUMBAI PASSPORT SEVA KENDRAS AND AGENTS/TOUTS ON ALLEGATIONS OF COLLUSIVE CORRUPTION
Dated: 02-07-2024
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has conducted further searches on 30th June, and 1st July, 2024 at the office and residence of one more passport agent/ tout based in Mumbai. During the searches, Rs 1.59 Cr cash (approx) and other incriminating material in form of 5 diaries and digital evidence have been recovered.
CBI had registered 12 cases on 28.06.2024 against 14 Officials including Passport Assistants/Sr. Passport Assistants posted at Passport Sews Kendras(PSKs) of Lower Parel and Malad, and eighteen (18) passport facilitation agents/touts on allegations that officials posted at PSK, Lower Parel, Mumbai and PSK Malad, Mumbai working under Regional Passport Office (RPO) Mumbai, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Govt. of India are indulging in collusive corruption with agents/touts. It was alleged that these officers were in regular contact with passport facilitation agents and conspiring with them to obtain undue advantage in lieu of issuance of passport based on inadequate/incomplete documents or by manipulating the personal particulars of passport applicants.
These cases arose out of Joint Surprise Checks (JSC) conducted by CBI on 26.06.2024 at PSK, Parel and PSK, Malad along with the Vigilance Officers of the Passport Seva Programme (PSP) Division, Ministry of External Affairs, Govt. of India and officers of RPO Mumbai. During Joint Surprise Check (JSC), the office desks and mobile phones of the suspect officers were analyzed jointly by CBI team and Vigilance Officers of PSP, Division, MEA. The analysis of documents, social media chats and Unified Payments Interface (UPI) ID activities of suspect public servants had revealed various suspicious transactions by some officials of PSKs indicating demand and acceptance of undue advantage through the passport facilitation agents for issuance of passports as well as to get passports issued based on inadequate/fake/forged documents.
The suspect officers of PSKs, in connivance with various passport facilitation agents / touts, were allegedly receiving huge monetary undue advantages directly in their own bank accounts or in the bank accounts of their near and dear/family members from the passport facilitation agents / touts to the tune of several lakhs of rupees.
CBI had earlier conducted searches on 29.06.2024 at about 33 locations of accused public servants and accused private persons situated at Mumbai and Nashik, which had led to recovery of several incriminating documents / digital evidence pertaining to passport documents, etc.
Investigation is continuing.
