CBI probes corruption allegations at two PSKs in Mumbai

It was alleged that these officers were in regular contact with passport facilitation agents and conspired with them to gain undue advantage in lieu of issuing a passport on the basis of inadequate and incomplete documents or by manipulating the personal data of passport applicants.

On June 26, 2024, Joint Surprise Checks (JSCs) were carried out at PSK, Parel and PSK, Malad with the vigilance officers of Passport Seva Program (PSP) division, Ministry of External Affairs and officers of RPO Mumbai .

During the joint surprise check, the offices and mobile phones of the suspected officers were jointly analyzed by the CBI team and MEA vigilance officers.

Analysis of documents, social media chats and Unified Payments Interface (UPI) identification activities of suspicious officials revealed various suspicious transactions by some PSK officials, indicating the demand and l Acceptance of undue advantage through Passport Facilitation Officers for issuance of passports as well as for obtaining passports issued on the basis of inadequate and falsified documents.

The suspected PSK officers, in connivance with various agents and passport touts, allegedly received huge undue monetary benefits directly into their own bank accounts or into the bank accounts of their relatives, family members, from the agents and passport touts, to the tune of several lakhs of rupees.

The CBI conducted searches at around 33 locations of accused officials and individuals in Mumbai and Nashik, which led to recovery of several incriminating documents and digital evidence relating to passport documents etc.