The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the City Police here, probing the case related to a fake passport allegedly possessed by Alex C Joseph, a luxury car smuggler, will seek the assistance of Dubai Police.
The SIT needs the assistance of their counterparts in Dubai for getting material evidence to clarify the claim of Alex C Joseph that someone with the name Aby John has misused his passport and travelled to Dubai. The officials have already written to the Ministry of Home Affairs in this regard.
“Alex C Joseph claimed that he never travelled to Dubai in past several years and someone who forged his passport was carrying out illegal activities. Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) had seized five passports which was issued to Aby John with photographs and address of Alex C Joseph. The passports were taken from Dubai. We want to gain material evidences like details of his stay in Dubai, including CCTV images and videos and biometric details recorded at the Airport there. The passport issued in the name of Aby John is a diplomatic passport and we have asked for details given to the enforcement agency for procuring the passport from Dubai” sources said.
The police also have received information that a case of kidnapping was registered in Dubai involving Alex C Joseph. The SIT has also sought more details of this case.
Saju Joseph, Assistant Commissioner of Police and investigation officer of the case said that Kerala government gave a letter in this regard to Ministry of Home Affairs few months ago. “Once the nod is received, we would approach a court in Dubai and Indian Embassy,” he said.
Alex was held by the Immigration Department officials in Hyderabad in November 2011 while attempting to flee the country using a fake passport.
The Hyderabad police had handed over the passport to Tiruvalla police who returned the passport to Alex later. The DRI had earlier issued a look-out notice against him. Alex had smuggled luxury cars under different names through various ports, including Kochi, from 1997, disguising them as used cars.
After his arrest, the case was investigated by the Palarivattom police. It was later handed over to the Special Investigation Team of the Kochi police.
