Fake document gang busted near CoP office

As many as 65 passports, fake visas of many foreign countries including Canada and the UK, employment orders, income tax returns, Aadhaar and voter identity cards were seized from the duo on Friday.  Police said the racket was run by John Xavier (34) from Sivagangai, from an office in Naval Hospital Road. 

Following a tip-off, the police team arrested Xavier and later picked up his assistant Venkiteswari (32) from a hotel. Sources said that police are on the lookout for at least four other members of the racket. 

“It is not clear how many years John Xavier was operating in the city,” an officer said. It is also not known if the suspect had come under the scanner of CCB earlier. 

Police suspect that many of the seized documents were either fake or obtained by submitting forged documents. 

Following the huge seizure of passports and fake visas and seals, a team from the Q Branch that specialises in extremist cases, has also held inquiries with the arrested duo, said sources.