CBI Filed Chargesheet against 8 People involved in Visa Fraud Case

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a chargesheet against eight people involved in a major visa fraud case linked to the French Embassy in New Delhi. Among the accused are a man who worked as a Local Law Officer in the visa section of the embassy, along with his father, brother, and wife. Two visa agents and two middlemen are also named in the case. The CBI began its investigation after receiving reliable information about a scam involving the illegal issuance of Schengen visas — which allow travel across many European countries.

The investigation revealed that between January 2021 and May 2022, the embassy official, while still working in the visa department, teamed up with a network of agents mostly based in Punjab. Together, they targeted people in Punjab who were looking to go abroad, and demanded large sums of money — ranging from ₹13 lakh to ₹45 lakh — from each visa applicant. In return, these applicants were promised Schengen visas. Once the visas were issued, the accused would destroy the related documents to hide their illegal activities. The scam was carefully planned and involved multiple people working together to collect money and process the fake paperwork.

During the investigation, CBI officers searched various locations in Delhi and Punjab and found large amounts of cash, as well as property documents linked to assets worth crores of rupees. These properties were located both in India and in foreign countries. The two visa agents played a key role in collecting and transferring the money. They moved funds through different bank accounts, eventually sending the money to the embassy official and his family members through the help of two middlemen.

To trace the assets and illegal money that had been moved abroad, the CBI took a major step by working with the International Police Cooperation Unit and Interpol. In a first for India, they succeeded in getting a Silver Notice issued by Interpol. This special notice is used to track down and identify money or property gained through crime and hidden in other countries. With this, the CBI was able to coordinate with foreign agencies to gather evidence and strengthen their case.

This case highlights how the CBI is using both national and international tools to go after fraud and corruption that crosses borders. The agency is committed to protecting Indian citizens from being cheated by such criminal networks and is taking strong legal action to bring the guilty to justice. The investigation is still ongoing, but the filing of the chargesheet and the success in tracing foreign assets marks a significant step forward.