The Ghaziabad Crime Branch arrested Pushpendra Kumar, a clerk working at the Regional Passport Office in Bhikaji Cama Place, Delhi. He was caught for his involvement in a racket that issued 22 passports using fake addresses and forged documents. This arrest happened on February 11, 2026, following a detailed investigation into suspicious applications flagged earlier by the passport office.
How the Fake Passport Racket Operated
Pushpendra Kumar was in charge of the Police Verification Desk at the Delhi office. He used his position to clear files that contained fake details in exchange for a bribe of 1,000 rupees per passport. To hide his identity, he used a separate mobile phone and SIM card provided by the main agent, Vivek Gandhi. He operated under the fake name Shyam to communicate with other members of the gang.
Bribery Structure and Official Action Taken
The investigation shows that agents charged applicants between 1 lakh and 1.5 lakh rupees for each fake passport. The money was distributed among different officials to bypass security checks. A postman named Arun Kumar received 2,000 rupees for each passport he diverted to the agents instead of delivering them to the listed addresses.
| Role in Racket | Action Taken / Status |
|---|---|
| Pushpendra Kumar (Clerk) | Arrested by Crime Branch |
| Vivek Gandhi (Agent) | In Jail, PCR hearing on Feb 13 |
| Arun Kumar (Postman) | Arrested |
| Deepak Kumar (Constable) | Currently Absconding |
| 11 Police Personnel | Shunted to Police Lines |
Police Commissioner J. Ravindra Gaur stated that the login IDs of Sub-Inspectors were misused to digitally clear verification reports. While six suspects are already in custody, the police are searching for Constable Deepak Kumar, who cleared verifications without visiting the physical sites. The beneficiaries included individuals living in Tilak Nagar who used fake Ghaziabad addresses to obtain these documents.
