South Korea human trafficking case: Probe finds many from Jammu traveled on visas obtained through dubious means

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An ongoing probe by Mumbai Police in the South Korea human trafficking case has found that several people from Jammu region travelled to South Korea for work in the last few years after obtaining visa through forged documents or other dubious means, reported the PTI.

The Mumbai Crime Branch had last week busted a gang which allegedly obtained visas using fraudulent means for people seeking work in South Korea.

It managed to send at least eight persons to the east Asian country over the last one year but two of them were sent back to India, said an official, who is familiar with the probe, on Wednesday.

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The Mumbai Crime Branch has so far arrested two Navy officers -- Lieutenant Commander Vipin Dagar and Sub Lieutenant Braham Jyoti -- along with Simran Teji, Ravi Kumar and Deepak Dogra in the case, according to the PTI.

The syndicate was active since May last year.

During the probe, the Mumbai Crime Branch officials also found that many people from Suchetgarh in Ranbir Singh Pora tehsil of Jammu district traveled to South Korea using similar means (with the help of different syndicates) in the last few years, the official said, as per the PTI.

After travelling on tourist visa, they worked in South Korea as daily wage workers in factories and also on construction sites, he said, noting that wages in that country are much higher than those in India which makes South Korea an attractive destination even for illegal workers.

Braham Jyoti was allegedly the mastermind of the racket busted last week, the police had claimed two days ago.

While Braham Jyoti and Deepak Dogra are school classmates, Jyoti and Dagar have known each other for years, the official said.

Pune-based Simran Teji, who taught German, came in contact with Braham Jyoti through a dating app and got involved in the racket. Her bank accounts were used to receive money from the people sent to South Korea, the official said, the news agency reported on Wednesday.

Police were investigating whether the members of the syndicate, including naval officer Dagar, had sent people to other countries as well, and letters are being sent to the consulates of several countries seeking information, he added.

(with PTI inputs)