Jalandhar, March 20, 2013 : The Additional Sessions Judge, Tis Hazari Courts, Delhi has sentenced Sudhir Sharma, a Travel Agent of Delhi to undergo seven years Rigorous Imprisonment with fine of Rs.40,000 U/s 120-B r/w Section 420,467,468,471 IPC and Section 12(2) of the Passport Act, 1967 for sending the persons abroad on fake and forged passports.
A case was registered by CBI on March 16, 2001 on the allegations that during the period between 1992 and 96, Sudhir Sharma, a Delhi based travel agent entered into criminal conspiracy with then Peon (now expired) working in the PV-II Section, Ministry of External Affairs, Patiala House, New Delhi with an intention to earn easy money by sending the aspirants from Punjab to abroad on the basis of forged undelivered official passports which were stolen from the said office.
In pursuance of the criminal conspiracy, Sudhir Sharma got prepared photographs of three aspirants from a Studio at Connaught Place, New Delhi and handed over the same to the Peon in the Ministry of External Affairs, who stole the undelivered and unlaminated official passports which were originally prepared in the name of government officials. After removing the photographs of the government officials from the passports, the accused had pasted the photographs of three aspirants on these passports after forging the signatures of government officials. The visas were allegedly obtained from the Embassy of USA, Panama, Caracas and Venezuela by the accused. Thereafter, they were taken to Sahar Airport, Mumbai on different dates from where they left the country on the basis of fake/forged official passports.
On completion of investigation, a charge sheet U/s 120-B r/w Section 381, 419, 420, 467, 468, 471 r/w 468 of IPC & Section 12(1)(a) & (d) and Section 12(2) r/w Section 3 of the Passport Act, 1967 was filed in the Designated Court, Delhi.
During the Course of trial, CBI examined 32 witnesses.
The Trial Court found the accused Sudhir Sharma guilty and convicted him.
Sudhir Sharma is already in jail as was earlier convicted in similar 5 cases of CBI.