Vinobha K T/Newindpress

Mangalore, Nov 16: Youth pinning their dreams on overseas jobs and being cheated is nothing new in the coastal region.

Visa frauds which surfaced during the migration of youth in the early fifties is the oldest white collar crime. Reported and unreported instances show no signs of abating despite hundred per cent literacy and high GDP in the region.

Visa fraud cases amounting to Rs 30 lakh were registered in different police stations in the district until September 2007. According to experts, advocates and police officers, youth are cheated time and again by self styled ‘visa agents’ hand-in-glove with ‘super agents’ in Mumbai.

Advocate Mohammed Ismail says firms in the Gulf do not charge money for visas, but collect flight ticket charges from aspirants.

“But the agents attract youth through advertisements and collect huge amounts of upto Rs 1 lakh,” Ismail informs. DK Superintendent of Police K Sathish Kumar agrees that it is high time to create awareness among people on visa frauds.

The talk of any punitive measures evokes laughter from Visa fraudsters. The reality is that the law is no deterrent to the self-styled agents who cheat youth with promise of visas.

According to Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) visa cheating cases are registered under section 420, a non-bailable offence and also under section 138 (negotiable instruments Act). Advocate Ismail says maximum punishment awarded under section 420 is seven years imprisonment with a heafty fine.

But unfortunately none of the offenders have been imprisoned till date for reasons as plain as lack of evidence and witnesses turning hostile. Ismail argues that it would be a herculean task to tackle menace of visa frauds within the present legal framework.

SDM Law College principal Prof B K Raveendra favours an effective law to award stringent punishment and penalty to visa fraudsters.

“Police and judiciary should take a lead in creating awareness among people about visa frauds,” he emphasises.