Chandigarh admin orders foreign travel, visa agents to submit documents for verification

PTC News Desk: The Chandigarh Administration, in its efforts to prevent fraud, has directed all foreign travel/visa agents operating in the city to provide their full antecedents to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) office of the relevant area within four weeks.

In an order, District Magistrate Vinay Pratap Singh stated that some travel agents engage in fraudulent practices by misleading and cheating citizens under the guise of handling their visa applications or affairs relating to sending persons abroad and other activities.

They place misleading advertisements in leading newspapers, deceiving innocent people in Chandigarh and neighbouring states, and then close their offices and flee the city. These travel agents' unlawful and fraudulent activities can jeopardise human life, health, or public safety.

The order, which was issued in accordance with Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), became effective on Tuesday and will remain in effect for 60 days, ending on June 20. A violation will result in legal action under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code, according to Chandigarh Deputy Commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh's order (IPC).