The Ahmedabad Crime Branch has launched an investigation into an alleged immigration fraud in which two men claim they were cheated out of a combined Rs 72.3 lakh after being promised Canadian work visas that never materialised. The accused are four members of a family who operated an immigration consultancy in Ahmedabad and lured clients with assurances of overseas employment.
The case is being investigated by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the city Crime Branch after an FIR was registered with the Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) on Tuesday. Police have booked the four accused for cheating and criminal breach of trust.
Farmer alleges he was promised a Canada work permit
According to the first complaint, a 31-year-old farmer from Gandhinagar district approached the immigration consultancy’s office in Thaltej in May 2024 after seeking assistance in obtaining a Canadian work visa.
The consultancy asked him to pay a registration fee before processing his application. After accepting the payment, the accused reportedly provided him with what appeared to be a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) letter, a document generally required by Canadian employers to hire foreign workers.
The complainant alleged that the consultancy also arranged his biometric appointment at a visa application centre and regularly updated him, claiming that his visa application was progressing smoothly.
Fake approval letter led to more payments
According to the FIR, the accused informed the farmer in March this year that his Canadian work visa had been approved. They allegedly sent him a Passport Request (PPR) letter, which is typically issued when an applicant is asked to submit a passport for visa stamping.
Believing the process had reached its final stage, the farmer made additional payments to the consultancy. However, when he received his passport in June, he discovered that it did not contain a Canadian visa.
Police said the complainant had paid a total of Rs 32.8 lakh through cash and bank transfers between September 2024 and March 2025.
Refund promise also failed, complainant alleges
After the visa failed to materialise, the accused allegedly told the complainant that the employer sponsoring his work permit was no longer available. They then reportedly offered him either a fresh placement opportunity or a refund of the money he had paid. According to the complaint, neither promise was fulfilled.
Instead, the complainant received several cheques from the accused as part of the refund process, including one cheque that was dishonoured when presented for payment.
Second victim lost over Rs 44 lakh
During the investigation, police discovered another victim from New Shahibaug who claimed he had been cheated in a similar manner by the same family.
According to his complaint, the accused collected Rs 44.4 lakh from him between 2023 and 2025 after promising to secure him a Canadian work visa.
Although the consultancy later refunded Rs 4.8 lakh in instalments, the majority of the money was never returned, the complainant alleged.
Crime Branch investigating financial trail
With complaints from two victims involving a combined amount of Rs 72.3 lakh, the Ahmedabad Crime Branch’s Economic Offences Wing has begun a detailed investigation into the operations of the immigration consultancy.
Police have registered offences against the four members of the family for cheating and criminal breach of trust. Investigators are now examining the financial transactions, documents provided to the complainants, and the alleged use of visa-related paperwork, including the LMIA and Passport Request letters, to determine the extent of the fraud.
Authorities are also probing whether more victims may have been targeted through similar promises of overseas jobs and Canadian work visas.
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