Ex-colleague, husband dupe Ahmedabad man of Rs 24.75 lakh over visa promise

A man in Ahmedabad was allegedly duped of Rs 24.75 lakh by a couple under the pretext of arranging a hassle-free visa for the United Kingdom along with a work permit.According to officials, he approached them after the accused, identified as his ex-colleague Nikita Soni and her husband Raj Soni, failed to provide the promised visa or return the money despite repeated requests.The complainant, named Nipam, has claimed that the duo took the money in instalments over a period of about a year.He told the police that he became friends with Nikita in 2021 while working with her at a private company. As they grew closer, they would also discuss family matters. During one such conversation, Nikita purportedly told him that her husband, Raj, lived in the UK and that she was planning to join him there once her visa was approved.In 2022, she allegedly informed Nipam that she had secured a visa for herself and that she would soon travel to the UK. She encouraged him to apply for a visa, assuring him that her husband would help him with the process, per the police complaint. Nipam subsequently discussed the proposal with his wife and began exploring the possibility of moving to the UK.In 2023, when Nikita returned to India for a short visit, she told him that she could arrange a UK visa with a work permit for Rs 25 lakh, police said.She also assured him that the money would be returned if the visa could not be secured. After returning to the UK, the woman allegedly contacted Nipam and reiterated the offer, promising to arrange a guaranteed visa for Rs 25 lakh.As Nipam could not pay the entire amount at once, he proposed making the payment in instalments.According to the complainant, he initially transferred Rs 1 lakh, followed by payments totalling another Rs 23.75 lakh over the next one year, taking the total amount paid to Rs 24.75 lakh.The complainant further claimed that he underwent an interview through a Zoom call during the visa process and supposedly received a job offer letter from a British health insurance giant.However, despite repeated follow-ups, he allegedly did not receive the promised visa or a clear update on its status.Nipam subsequently approached the police and lodged a complaint against Raj and Nikita.Police have registered a case against the couple under relevant sections relating to cheating and criminal breach of trust and initiated an investigation.Investigators are examining the accused's bank accounts and documents linked to the purported visa and work permit process.Amid concerns over visa-related fraud cases, police have urged people in Ahemadabad seeking to travel abroad to use the services of only authorised agents and verify the credentials of those offering visa assistance before making payments.- Ends