The Mumbai Police Crime Branch has apprehended Lieutenant Commander Vipin Kumar Dagar, a 28-year-old naval officer, for his alleged involvement in a fraudulent South Korean visa racket.
Dagar is accused of abusing his official position to expedite visa applications containing falsified documents, thereby enabling individuals to illegally travel to South Korea for work.
According to police sources, the racket targeted individuals seeking better employment opportunities in South Korea, promising lucrative earnings. The racket members would then create counterfeit documents to satisfy visa requirements.
These fabricated applications were then shared with Dagar, who, in his official uniform, would allegedly pressure officials at the South Korean embassy to expedite the processing of these applications, overlooking discrepancies in the documents.
Dagar, a resident of Sonepat in Haryana, has been serving in the Western Naval Command for the past year. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Mechanical Engineering from INS Kerala and comes from a military background, with his father also having served in the armed forces.
The police investigation revealed that Dagar and his associates are suspected of having facilitated the illegal travel of 8 to 10 individuals to South Korea, charging each of them a substantial fee of Rs 10 lakh. Dagar was arrested on Thursday from Colaba following a tip-off to the crime branch. He has been remanded to police custody until July 5 for further investigation.
This incident has raised concerns about the integrity of the visa application process and the potential misuse of official positions for personal gain. The police are continuing their investigation to identify and apprehend all individuals involved in this racket.
The police have not yet released any further details on the specific nature of the falsified documents or the extent of Dagar's involvement in the racket. The investigation is ongoing and further updates are expected in the coming days.
