CHENNAI: A head constable attached to the intelligence wing of the city police was arrested on Tuesday for allegedly colluding with a gang that was making available fake passports. K Murugan, 49, attached to Chintadripet police station, is said to have helped the gang in the address verification process.
“Murugan had given address verification clearance for 15 fake applications. His involvement was confirmed during investigation,” a senior police officer told Express. Murugan’s involvement emerged during the interrogation of one Ramalingam, who was arrested last month, police sources said.
Ramalingam is believed to be running a racket to arrange passports for people based on fake certificates.
“He had allegedly arranged fake passports for many people, including Sri Lankans, living here. He would submit fake identity and address proofs through the online process. To get the police verification done, he would bribe the intelligence police personnel and get it done,” said a police officer. He added that Ramalingam would often create fake address proofs in areas where he knew police officers could be bribed.
Murugan was stated to be one such person who had been serving in the Chintadripet police station since 2010. “He knew fully well all of them were fake papers, yet would certify that he had visited the house mentioned in the application form and verified the details,” said a police press release.
Following Murugan’s arrest, three other personnel in the intelligence wing are under scanner for similar collusion. “A man hailing from West Bengal was recently caught with a passport, which mentions he lives the Royala Nagar police station limits. He also had another passport that had a Chennai address, which he got using fake papers. The police officers who did address verification are under scanner,” said a police source.
Passport address verification is usually done by intelligence personnel attached to the respective police stations.