Two more arrested for ‘selling fake national park safari permits’ across India

According to officials, the accused used electronic devices to book forest safaris in bulk using false identities on official government websites. They allegedly created fake safari permits and sold them to tourists through travel agents, collecting inflated payments and defrauding customers.

Investigators of the Gujarat Cyber Centre of Excellence found that the accused had created a website mimicking the official government portal. The probe revealed that around 12,000 illegal safari permits had been allegedly issued, with over 8,650 confirmation emails and payment records allegedly recovered. Additionally, more than 10,000 PDF links containing fraudulent permit details were allegedly discovered.

Three people were previously arrested in connection with the case, namely Alpeshkumar Mansukhlal Bhalani, who runs a tours and travels company in Thaltej, Ahmedabad; and Sultan Usman Baloch and Ajoj Nurmohammad Shaikh, both residents of Mendarda, Junagadh.

The FIR, filed on October 10 at the State Cybercrime Cell on the basis of a complaint by the Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF), Sasan Gir, on behalf of the State, booked several unknown persons under Section 112 (organised petty crime) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Further investigation is underway.