Passport Seva Kendra corruption case: CBI files 2 more FIRs against regional passport officers in Mumbai

According to CBI’s FIR, Wankhedkar received illegal gratification in lieu of favouring passport agents in the matter of issuance of passports of various applicants. She allegedly accepted undue advantage from different private individuals or agents connected with official dealings and also entered into suspicious transactions with her colleagues.

The FIR said Wankhedkar received bribes through bank transfers and cash deposits worth approximately Rs 51 lakh in her bank accounts from various passport facilitation agents such as Shaikh Muzammil, Suleman Sheikh, and other unknown persons. She also received undue advantage from one agent, Mehul Desai, who has also been accused in the case, the FIR added.

The second accused, GO Umesh Devadhia, also received an undue advantage in lieu of favouring passport agents in the issuance of passports. He obtained Rs 4.08 lakh from agent Muzammil as illegal gratification between October 2020 and June 2024, according to the agency’s FIR. There were also suspicious credit entries to the tune of approximately Rs 7.37 lakh during May, 2023-May, 2024 in his bank account, added CBI’s FIR.

Claiming to have busted a deep-rooted nexus between touts and RPO officials, CBI last month registered 12 FIRs against 32 people, including 14 officials of passport offices. The premier investigation agency on June 26 conducted joint surprise checks at PSKs in Lower Parel and Malad along with vigilance officers of the Passport Seva Programme (PSP) Division and officers of Mumbai RPO.

CBI also learned some officers of Passport Seva Kendras were also in touch with passport facilitation agents, who were involved in making fake passports by compromising the country’s national security. The Central agency had the information that some officers were receiving the bribes directly in their bank accounts or those of their family members from the passport facilitation agents.

On June 29, the agency conducted simultaneous searches at 35 locations in Mumbai and Nashik, recovering several incriminating documents, digital evidence pertaining to passport documents, etc. revealing a deep nexus between touts and the RPO officials. Later, the agency also raided one more passport agent’s premises in Mumbai and seized cash worth Rs 1.59 crore.