Another Navy officer among four others detained in Korean human trafficking case

Mumbai: The Indian Navy lieutenant commander-rank officer arrested for alleged involvement in human trafficking to South Korea on the basis of fake documents was taking instructions from the mastermind, also from the Navy, officials said on Sunday.

So far, the Mumbai crime branch has arrested five people, including Lt Commander Vipin Kumar Dagar (28), who was arrested from Colaba on Thursday, they said.

The others have been identified as Second Lieutenant Braham Jyoti Sharma, Simran Teji, Ravi Kumar and Deepak Dogra.

Police had earlier said that the gang sent 8-10 people to the East Asian country using fake documents and charged Rs 10 lakh per case.

Dagar prepared fake documents and sent them to the Korean consulate. He was following the instructions of mastermind and naval officer Sharma, who was arrested from Lonavala, the crime branch said.

The Indian Navy said on Saturday that it would fully cooperate with law enforcement agencies in the matter.

Simran Teji, arrested from Pune, is a close associate of Sharma and she channeled the proceeds of crime through his various bank accounts, officials said.

Ravi Kumar and Deepak Dogra were arrested in Jammu and Kashmir. Their remand has been confirmed and they will be produced in court upon their arrival in Mumbai, an official said.

Kumar wanted to leave for South Korea on a visa obtained using false documents. Dogra appears to have monitored the entire operation and identified potential targets wanting to go abroad on work visas, the official said.

The MRA police station has booked the five persons for fraud and forgery under the Indian Penal Code and the Passport Act. Further investigation is underway, the official added.

Dagar, a resident of Haryana and son of an Air Force personnel, has been remanded to police custody till July 5.