The ਪੰਜਾਬ and Haryana High Court has declared that immigration frauds disguised as consultancy services fall under the category of “organised human trafficking.” The court said these frauds target desperate ਲੋਕ dreaming of settling abroad and must face strict legal action.
Justice Sumeet Goel made these strong remarks while hearing a case from Mansa ਜ਼ਿਲ੍ਹਾ. A woman, working as a teacher, allegedly cheated a van driver of Rs 42 lakh, promising to send his son legally to the United States. Instead, the boy was illegally routed through several countries, detained in Panama, and deported back to ਭਾਰਤ on November 20, 2024.
The court noted that this was not just financial cheating but also a serious blow to human dignity and national interest. Justice Goel said such scams hurt public trust and lawful immigration systems. He stressed that ਲੋਕ involved in these crimes should not be given leniency and must face firm legal action.
The judge also highlighted the need for custodial interrogation to uncover the full conspiracy and recover the money. The court found enough evidence against the accused and denied her request for pre-arrest bail, saying it would affect the investigation.
The case reflects a growing problem in ਪੰਜਾਬ, where fake immigration agents take advantage of ਲੋਕ’s hopes, leaving them with financial loss and emotional trauma.
