MEA officials booked by CBI for forged ‘official’ passports

Shell firms case: CBI books 12 people, searches 16 places in Ahmedabad
Shell firms case: CBI books 12 people, searches 16 places in Ahmedabad

NEW DELHI: Unknown officials of the External Affairs Ministry were today booked by the CBI for allegedly issuing “official” passports to 12 people on the basis of forged documents showing them as Arunachal Pradesh Government officials to facilitate their trafficking to the US.

The alleged criminal conspiracy was hatched between the ministry officials and private persons between December 2016 and March this year, the FIR said.

The agency filed the FIR against Raja Kipa, Thupten, Kalden Kunseng, Lucky and unknown officials of the ministry in this connection.

It is alleged that the 12 people had applied for non- immigrant visa for the US and presented their official passports along with letter purportedly written by the ministry to the US Consulate in Kolkata, the FIR said. (AGENCIES)