An Indian Navy officer, identified as Lieutenant Commander Vipin Kumar Dagar, aged 28, has been arrested by the Mumbai Crime Branch for his alleged involvement in a counterfeit South Korean visa scheme.
According to Mumbai police, Dagar was apprehended in Colaba on Thursday. Reports suggest he is part of a network that used falsified documents to facilitate illegal entry into South Korea, exploiting his position within the naval forces.
Lt. Commander Vipin Kumar Dagar, aged 28, was apprehended by Mumbai’s crime branch on Thursday in Colaba following credible information linking him to a syndicate involved in sending individuals abroad using falsified paperwork. He appeared in court on Friday and has been remanded into police custody until July 5.
According to police sources, Dagar’s associates admitted to facilitating the illegal migration of 8-10 people to South Korea.
Reports from The Indian Express detail the workings of the syndicate, which allegedly operated a counterfeit visa scheme enticing individuals with promises of lucrative job prospects abroad.
The network would fabricate documents such as medical certificates and bank statements necessary for visa applications. These falsified details were then forwarded to Dagar, who allegedly used his authority to expedite visa approvals at the South Korean Embassy.
Sources further reveal that Dagar would visit the South Korean Embassy in his official naval attire, pressuring embassy officials to expedite visa processing for applicants linked to the racket. It’s reported that he insisted on overlooking discrepancies in the applications, sometimes creating disturbances when visas were denied to applicants allegedly using forged documents.
Originally from Haryana and the son of an Air Force officer, Dagar allegedly leveraged his naval position to aid the syndicate’s operations.
The Crime Branch investigation has revealed that a significant number of the individuals involved in the visa racket facilitated by Lt. Commander Vipin Kumar Dagar hailed from Jammu & Kashmir.
Dagar, who joined the Indian Navy approximately six years ago, has been stationed at the Western Naval Command for the past year. According to various reports, he holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in mechanical engineering from INS Kerala.
