Passport to terror: Buy it in India

QUICK FIX: CNN-IBN Investigation revealed how easy it is to get a Nepali passport made in India.

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Keywords: Delhi, Special Investigation

New Delhi: Just days after BJP MP Babubhai Katara's arrest for trying to take a woman out of the country on his wife's passport, a special investigation by CNN-IBN has revealed that the racket of fake passports runs much deeper and that the passport racket can help just about anybody get a passport made without any verification right in the national capital of Delhi.

In spite of increased security surveillance across the world against terrorist elements, the CNN-IBN investigation showed how easy it is to get a Nepali passport made right from Indian soil. Shockingly, this is possible even if the passport-seeker happens to be a terrorist or a underworld don.

During the investigation, the CNN-IBN Special Investigation Team got in touch with a tout in an effort to get a Nepali passport made for a wanted terrorist. The face chosen for the purpose happened to be that of Zahoor Iqbal Mistry, the mastermind behind the hijacking of IC-814 from Kathmandu in 1999.

It was this hijacking that had forced the Indian Government to release dreaded terrorist Azhar Mehmood. Mistry is on CBI's most wanted list. There is also an Interpol red corner notice out for him, which means police forces across the world are keeping a watch for this man. But the tout has no clue of this.

To get things moving, the CNN-IBN team first got a meeting fixed with the tout at Connaught Place, the heart of New Delhi, at 12 noon. The tout was a tall Nepali man, named Dharma Kumar Poudel. He is known to be a major player in the passport racket. Dharma wasted no time and promised to get things done if the price he sought was given.

CNN-IBN: These people say, if we adopt a Nepali name, it will be fool-proof. This name may be a problem.

Dharma: No, no problem.

CNN-IBN: We want it on our names only.

Dharma: Yes, it can be made on your names. Things can move fast if you give the money.

Dharma said he can get everything made, be it a passport or a visa. He then asked for an advance.

Dharma: If you give me the money today, I will get things moving. Nobody works without cash. What if I get a passport made and you don't show up?

CNN-IBN: OK fine. I will give you the photographs tomorrow at 5 PM.

Dharma: At 5, it will be sunny here!