(a) whether a passport racket has been busted in the country recently;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the number of persons arrested in this regard;
(d) the action taken against them;
(e) whether the Government is contemplating to do away with the middlemen for issuance of passport; and
(f) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI MANIKRAO HODLYA GAVIT)
(a) & (b): One fake passport racket was recently detected in Regional Passport Office, Delhi in which various additional booklets with different photographs and signatures were issued in the name of Smt. Geeta Devi Kapor, Shri Rajest Vohra and Shri Rohit Kumar. The CBI, FRRO and Delhi Police, Special Branch, have registered cases/Firs in the matter.
(c) & (d): Two officials of Regional Passport Office, Delhi, were arrested and later released on bail and both have since been placed under suspension by the Ministry of External Affairs.
(e) & (f): There are no middlemen in the issuance of passports as applications are submitted directly to the Passport Offices or through authorized representatives and recognized travel agents.