Punjab Couple Arrested in Vrindavan for Illegal Immigration Scam

March 4, 2026

A Punjab-based couple from Patiala has been arrested in Vrindavan, Mathura (Uttar Pradesh) for allegedly operating a large-scale illegal immigration and visa fraud racket, police said on Tuesday.

The couple, identified as Saurabh Gupta and his wife Pragati Gupta, were taken into custody following a raid at a rented flat in the Hare Krishna Orchid Society in Sunrakh area of Vrindavan where they had been living with their two children.

Punjab Police officers, who had been searching for the duo for about two months, executed the operation and later produced them before a local magistrate before taking them to Malerkotla on a transit remand for further questioning.

What Police Found: Fake Promises and Fraudulent Fees

According to law enforcement officials, the couple is accused of duping people by promising visas and overseas settlement opportunities, particularly to Canada, using forged travel and immigration documents.

Victims were reportedly charged between ₹50 lakh and ₹2.5 crore per person on the pretext of arranging visas and travel abroad.

Multiple complaints were registered against the couple in Malerkotla, Punjab, where police began receiving reports of fraud by people who had paid large sums but never received any legitimate documentation or travel arrangements.

Modus Operandi: Low Profile with Religious Persona

Police allege that the couple maintained a low profile in Vrindavan by dressing in religious attire and presenting themselves as spiritually inclined residents, which prevented suspicion among neighbours and society members.

“They were dressed in religious clothes and neighbours had no idea about their alleged illegal activities,” an officer told reporters.

Investigators believe that the fraud continued even while the couple lived in the Vrindavan flat, allowing them to amass crores of rupees from unsuspecting victims seeking to migrate abroad.

‘Kabootarbaazi’: Illegal Immigration Network

The crime is part of what is colloquially known in North India as ‘kabootarbaazi’, a term widely used to refer to illegal immigration syndicates that exploit aspirants desperate to move abroad.

These operations often promise quick or guaranteed immigration outcomes by using fake or forged paperwork, misleading clients and collecting huge sums of money without delivering any legitimate service.

Police are continuing the investigation, looking into possible accomplices and tracing other victims who may have been duped by the same racket.