(a) whether an `Israeli smuggler used Indian passport for two years` as reported in the Hindustan Times dated November 21, 2001;
(b) if so, the facts in this regard; and
(c) the action taken/proposed to be taken against those found guilty in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI JASWANT SINGH)
(a) & (b) A short validity passport was issued to one Rachel Cyrus Ilavia by the RPO, Mumbai on 3.12.1998 on the basis of a Verification Certificate issued by a Joint Secretary to the Government of Maharashtra. A Verification Certificate, inter alia, certifies the bonafides of an applicant.
The passport was renewed to its full validity of 10 years, in December, 1999, on police report overdue basis.
The Mumbai police sent a report in July, 2000 to the effect that the particulars of the applicants could not be verified. As this was not a sufficient ground for taking action under the provisions of the Passport Act, 1967, the passport was not impounded/revoked. It was only in October, 2001 that the Delhi Police informed the Passport Office,Mumbai that the applicant was an Israeli National and the passport was revoked thereafter.
(c) The matter is under investigation by the Police Authorities.