Mumbai: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered 12 cases against 14 officials and 18 passport facilitation agents for collusive corruption on Thursday.
The officials, including Passport Assistants and Senior Passport Assistants, were posted at Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) in Lower Parel and Malad, Mumbai. These officers were purportedly in regular contact with passport facilitation agents, conspiring to gain undue advantages in exchange for issuing passports based on inadequate or incomplete documents, or by manipulating the personal details of passport applicants.
On June 26, Joint Surprise Checks (JSC) were carried out at PSK Parel and PSK Malad, in collaboration with the Vigilance Officers of the Passport Seva Programme (PSP) Division, MEA, and officers of RPO Mumbai.
During the surprise check and investigation, it was found that the officials received large sums of money directly or through family members from passport facilitation agents.
The CBI conducted searches at 33 locations, recovering incriminating documents and digital evidence related to passport documents. The investigation is ongoing.
