Ahmedabad visa consultant cheated of ₹16 lakh with promise of Finland, Bosnia work permits

A visa consultant from Ahmedabad has lodged a complaint alleging that a Mumbai-based overseas consultancy firm cheated him and his clients of over ₹16 lakh by promising work visas for European countries but failing to deliver.

As per the FIR registered at Ghatlodia Police Station, the accused allegedly assured the complainant that work visas for countries such as Finland and Bosnia would be secured within three to four months, but neither processed the applications nor refunded the money.

Devangbhai Dilipbhai Upadhyay, a resident of Naranpura who has been working as a visa consultant for nearly a decade, stated that he came into contact with the accused firm, Aaarkane Overseas Company, in April 2024.

He alleged that during a visit to the firm’s office in Mumbai, he met its owners, Sonali Gurmukh Chandani and Dishant Shaileshkumar Maniyar, along with manager Rafael Rajput, who assured him of '100 per cent' success in securing work visas within a stipulated time frame. The accused also allegedly showed sample visa documents to gain his confidence.

Acting on these assurances, the complainant sourced multiple clients seeking overseas employment opportunities. These included individuals from Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Sabarkantha and Porbandar, who were interested in work permits for Finland and Bosnia.

Police said the accused quoted fees of approximately ₹4 lakh per person for Finland and ₹2 lakh per person for Bosnia. Based on this, the complainant collected documents from his clients and forwarded them to the firm.

Between October 2024 and June 2025, a total of ₹11.05 lakh was transferred online from the complainant’s Bank of Baroda account to the firm’s bank account, while the overall amount allegedly paid in the transaction was stated to be around ₹16.05 lakh.

Despite repeated follow-ups and in-person visits to Mumbai, the complainant alleged that the accused kept delaying the process on various pretexts, failed to provide any valid visa approvals, and eventually stopped responding to calls.

The FIR states that even after nearly a year and a half, none of the promised visas were delivered, and no refunds were issued, leading the complainant to conclude that he and his clients had been cheated.

A case has been registered under relevant provisions of the BNS pertaining to cheating and criminal breach of trust.

Officials said statements of victims are being recorded and financial transaction trails are being examined. Further action will be taken based on evidence gathered during the course of the investigation.