In one year, Chandigarh sees more than 200 immigration fraud cases, with total scam money worth more than Rs 40 crore
According to the Chandigarh Police website — as of now only 429 immigration companies are registered in the records of the UT police
Victims — often aspiring to go abroad for work or study — were lured with false promises and charged hefty fees Since the implementation of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) on July 1, 2024, Chandigarh has witnessed a spike in immigration fraud incidents, with 200 cases being registered till June, 2025, while nearly 60 FIRs have been registered in the last six months only, and an amount of more than Rs 40 crore has been reportedly involved in it.
According to the Chandigarh Police website — as of now only 429 immigration companies are registered in the records of the UT police, whereas more than 500 companies are running illegally without permission.
In 2024, the police identified 42 such firms involved in immigration fraud and most of them were set up in sectors 17, 22, 34, 36, 37, 39, and 40, and the Chandigarh Police had last year arrested around 100 owners of different immigration firms for running their businesses without obtaining valid permission from the UT administration.
Investigations have revealed that most accused were running illegal immigration consultancies without mandatory licenses. Victims — often aspiring to go abroad for work or study — were lured with false promises and charged hefty fees. In several cases, individuals were defrauded of Rs 15–30 lakh. In some instances, more than 100 people were duped by a single racket.
Many fraudsters accepted money on the pretext of sending people to countries like Canada, Australia, and European nations for jobs or higher education. The accused collected money in cash or through bank accounts and later disappeared, sold assets, or shut offices without informing the investors.
To prevent future fraud, the UT police has launched a verification drive to identify unlicensed or fraudulent agents operating within Chandigarh. A police official said that action will be taken under the Immigration Act against those found violating norms. Police have also appealed to the public to verify immigration consultants through government portals before making any payments or signing documents.
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