Mandeep Singh, a 42-year-old former national kabaddi player from Punjab’s Kapurthala district, has been arrested by the IGI Airport police for allegedly operating an illegal immigration racket under the guise of an IELTS coaching center.
The Case Unfolds
The scam came to light when 20-year-old Maninder Pal Singh, a deportee from Jalandhar, was apprehended at Delhi’s IGI Airport on December 14 for tampering with his passport. Missing pages, altered visas, and fake immigration stamps uncovered during scrutiny pointed to a larger fraudulent operation.
Maninder revealed that Mandeep had assured him of safe passage to the United States for ₹41 lakh. The illegal journey included a convoluted route through Kazakhstan, Dubai, Senegal, Libya, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico, with forged documents used to conceal illegal stays.
However, US authorities detected the fraud, leading to Maninder’s deportation and triggering the investigation.
The Arrest
Acting on intelligence, a police team apprehended Mandeep from Moga, recovering a licensed pistol from his possession. During interrogation, he confessed to orchestrating the immigration racket.
A Fall from Grace
Once a national kabaddi and handball player, Mandeep had achieved academic success and secured a position as a physical training teacher in a government school. However, driven by the lure of quick money, he leveraged his network and turned to illegal immigration operations, police said.
Implications
Mandeep’s case highlights the growing challenge of illegal immigration scams exploiting vulnerable individuals seeking better opportunities abroad. Authorities are expanding the investigation to identify other victims and associates involved in the racket.
