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29 folk artists detained for
forging US visa documents
WSN Network
New Delhi: A troupe of 29 folk artists from Punjab was detained by
the Chanakyapuri police for allegedly using fake documents to apply
for visas in the US embassy in New Delhi.
The police added that the detained artists included some pop singers
who were believed to be close to a famous Punjabi pop singer, said
to be living abroad. There were also reports that his wife too had
links with the troupe members but it is yet to be established, the
police added.
The troupe was being managed by Jasvinder Singh in Delhi who is also
being interrogated. DCP (New Delhi) Anand Mohan said, ‘‘We have
registered a case based on the complaint of the embassy and their
documents provided by the US embassy are being examined.’’
The name of an NRI has reportedly also come up during the
investigation, which cops are now trying to verify.
It all began on Tuesday when a troupe of folk artists had applied
for visas to the US. All of them had submitted their documents that
day after which they visited the embassy again. The embassy
officials had reportedly found certain irregularities in the
documents and asked the artists to wait while they informed the
police.
On verification by the police, it was learnt that the group was
trying to smuggle some people along with other genuine artists.
All group members were then taken to Chanakyapuri police station.
Preliminary reports suggested that the troupe was headed by Bobby
Malkit Kaur, who is a choreographer and pop singer.
The police said that they were examining the documents related to
the visas of these folk artists.
Senior officers and the US embassy officials had a meeting at the
Chanakyapuri police station for four hours where they alleged that
the folk artists had used fake documents.
They also alleged that there were a few artists whose documents were
complete and they were being used to cover up others.
‘‘We are trying to find out who was the troupe manager and the
organiser of the trip. The group was supposed to perform for three
months at different places in the US and we have sought the details
of the sponsors of these programmes who will also be interrogated,’’
said a senior police officer.
17
October, 2007
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