New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a chargesheet against eight accused, including a Local Law Officer from the French Embassy’s Visa Department in New Delhi, his family members and associates, in a major visa fraud case. The agency has also achieved a historic milestone by obtaining India’s first-ever Interpol Silver Notice to trace overseas assets acquired through the scam.
The accused include Shubham Shokeen, who served as Local Law Officer in the Visa Department of the French Embassy; his brother Abhishek Shokeen; father Samunder Singh; wife Aarti Choudhary; two visa agents Balwinder Singh Bartia and Pritpal Singh; and two middlemen Jashandeep Singh Sidhu and Bhawan Shokeen.
Investigations revealed that between January 2021 and May 2022, the accused targeted Schengen visa applicants from Punjab, charging exorbitant amounts ranging from 13 lakh to 45 lakh rupees per visa. The visa agents collected money from applicants which was then funneled through various bank accounts before reaching the embassy official and his family through the middlemen.
During searches, the CBI recovered substantial cash and documents related to properties worth crores of rupees in Delhi and Punjab. The accused allegedly destroyed visa documents after processing to conceal evidence of their illegal activities.
The Interpol Silver Notice, a first for India, was secured by CBI’s International Operations Division to track proceeds of crime moved abroad. This marks a significant step in India’s efforts to combat international financial crimes. The agency coordinated with multiple domestic and international agencies to gather evidence in the case.
The chargesheet has been filed before the Special CBI Court in New Delhi. Investigations continue to uncover the full extent of the fraud network and identify any other individuals involved. The CBI has reiterated its commitment to pursuing transnational crimes and bringing perpetrators to justice.
