Private website issues forged tourist visas, police files case

New Delhi: The Delhi police has filed a case against a private commercial website which allegedly issued forged e-tourist visas to foreign nationals. The website facilitates visa services although it is not authorised to issue e-tourist visa to any foreign national.

Sources said that in October 2016, two US nationals arrived at IGI Airport by an Air India flight AI-317 from Hong Kong on eTVs (electronic tourist visa). Upon questioning, it was revealed that they had applied for Indian eTVs through indianvisaonline.org.in. Subsequently, an email was received by the US nationals on behalf of Team India Visa Online confirming that their eTVs were granted. However, both the US nationals were refused entry as the e-visas turned out to be fake.  

It has been cleared that the ministry of home affairs (MHA) has not authorised any agency/agent/company/individual to issue eTV to any foreign national. Team India Visa Online is not authorised to issue eTV to foreign nationals. Notably, indianvisaonline.org.in is a private commercial website operated by one business LLC, facilitating visa services while indianvisaonline.gov.in is a government portal run by the MHA to grant eTVs. The names of both the websites are similar, expect for the “org” and “gov” part, which misleads the people and the fake website thus cheats the people as well as the immigration authority.

The concerned agencies, after investigating the matter, have filed a complaint with the Delhi police. A case has been registered under Sections 420, 468, and 471 of the IPC at the IGI Airport police station. The matter is being investigated, said a police official.