The Gujarat University police arrested a man for allegedly acquiring an Indian passport using fake credentials to obtain Portuguese citizenship. The accused, identified as Karan Jayanti Tandel, was apprehended after authorities at the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) flagged inconsistencies in his visa application.

According to official sources, Tandel, a resident of Nani Daman, had initially obtained an Indian passport under the false identity of Ramesh Tandel, listing a Mumbai address. Records indicate that his Indian passport was issued on November 28, 2020 by the Mumbai Regional Passport Office. However, subsequent investigations revealed that Tandel had simultaneously applied for a Portuguese passport, citing different details.

Upon reviewing his documents, FRRO officials discovered that Tandel had secured Portuguese citizenship under the Passport. In his visa application for re-entry into India, he submitted conflicting information regarding his date of birth, name, and address. The investigation further uncovered that Tandel had allegedly misrepresented his identity to facilitate his aunt Damayantiben Jalabo’s residence status in Portugal.

During questioning, the accused admitted to using forged documents, including an Aadhaar card and a driving licence, to obtain an Indian passport before applying for Portuguese citizenship. Authorities suspect that Tandel's fraudulent activities were aimed at securing dual benefits from both nations, a practice deemed illegal under Indian law.

"Our preliminary probe indicates that the accused manipulated documents to obtain multiple identities for immigration benefits. We have registered a case under relevant sections of the Passport Act and the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for forgery and misrepresentation," said a senior police official.

The Ahmedabad police have taken Tandel into custody and are conducting further investigations to ascertain the extent of fraud. Officials are also probing whether similar fraudulent applications have been processed in recent years.

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