Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) Police announced late on 2 December 2025 that they have dismantled an interstate racket supplying counterfeit French D-type visas to Indian job seekers. Three travellers from Tamil Nadu were intercepted on 28 October after immigration officers detected forged stickers that lacked microprint security features.
Subsequent investigation led officers to Namakkal-based agent V. Kannan, arrested this week. Police say Kannan runs both an Industrial Training Institute and an overseas placement consultancy, using the latter to charge victims between ₹6–12 lakh for bogus visas and warehouse job ‘offers’ in Paris. An accomplice from Madurai remains at large.
![IGI Airport Police Bust Tamil Nadu-Linked Fake French Visa Syndicate]()
The syndicate allegedly targeted at least 16 applicants, staging mock interviews to lend credibility. Authorities recovered multiple blank passports, embossing tools and a laptop pre-loaded with Schengen visa templates. The bust follows IGIA’s intensified anti-fraud drive that has booked 26 persons—including six agents—and 28 touts in the past month alone.
For mobility managers, the case is a stark reminder that document fraud is shifting from tourist visas to long-stay employment categories. French companies onboarding Indian staff should re-validate entry visas against the French government’s online checker before booking flights. Travellers are advised to avoid third-party agents and rely on official VFS centres.
Immigration lawyers predict that France’s consulate in Chennai may introduce additional verification steps for D-type applicants from high-risk districts. Meanwhile, Indian authorities plan joint outreach with state police to curb visa-for-fee scams in rural talent hubs.
Subsequent investigation led officers to Namakkal-based agent V. Kannan, arrested this week. Police say Kannan runs both an Industrial Training Institute and an overseas placement consultancy, using the latter to charge victims between ₹6–12 lakh for bogus visas and warehouse job ‘offers’ in Paris. An accomplice from Madurai remains at large.
The syndicate allegedly targeted at least 16 applicants, staging mock interviews to lend credibility. Authorities recovered multiple blank passports, embossing tools and a laptop pre-loaded with Schengen visa templates. The bust follows IGIA’s intensified anti-fraud drive that has booked 26 persons—including six agents—and 28 touts in the past month alone.
For mobility managers, the case is a stark reminder that document fraud is shifting from tourist visas to long-stay employment categories. French companies onboarding Indian staff should re-validate entry visas against the French government’s online checker before booking flights. Travellers are advised to avoid third-party agents and rely on official VFS centres.
Immigration lawyers predict that France’s consulate in Chennai may introduce additional verification steps for D-type applicants from high-risk districts. Meanwhile, Indian authorities plan joint outreach with state police to curb visa-for-fee scams in rural talent hubs.
