Assistant Immigration Officer at Ahmedabad airport has arrested Gita Maheshkumar Patel (51), a resident of Kadi in Mahesana district, for allegedly possessing a duplicate Portuguese passport with the name Rita Menezes.
According to the complaint filed by the immigration officer, Patel used a fake Portuguese passport to obtain an Indian e-tourist visa and enter India through Delhi in November 2021. She then used the same method to travel back to London in December 2021.
On December 2nd, 2023, Patel arrived from London on an Air India flight using her Indian passport. During immigration clearance, officials discovered that she also possessed a fraudulent Portuguese passport bearing the name Rita Menezes. This passport was obtained using the identity of another Indian individual, including their date of birth and parents’ names.
Investigations revealed that Patel departed India on an Indian passport on August 23rd, 2015, and returned on December 2nd, 2023, using the same document. However, in 2021, she entered and exited India through Delhi using a fake Portuguese passport and an e-tourist visa.
Initially, Patel denied possessing the Portuguese passport, claiming she only had an Indian passport. However, the photographs on both passports appeared identical, further confirming the suspicion of a duplicate passport.
Interestingly, Patel was accompanied by her husband, Maheshkumar Ranchhodbhai Patel. This case bears resemblance to the previous case of Tushal Menezes, who was arrested by the SVPI police station in February 2023 for a similar offence.
Preliminary investigations indicate that Patel was in possession of a fraudulently obtained Portuguese passport. She has been handed over to the airport police station for further investigation and legal action.
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