Shantaram Barku Shelke, the proprietor of SS Overseas Travels, was taken into custody on Monday by the Economic Offences Wing in Nalasopara after police traced his fake visa scheme that defrauded 41 people out of Rs 40 lakh.
The scheme began on social‑media platforms, where Shelke’s firm advertised overseas jobs in Russia and Israel, promising employment letters, visas and air tickets for a fee. Victims, lured by the prospect of a better life, paid the upfront sums, only to discover when they arrived at the airport that the documents were counterfeit.
Shelke evaded authorities by switching off his mobile phones and providing misleading addresses. Police tracked him from Delhi to Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand, finally locating him in Nalasopara in Palghar district.
The agency operated from an office in Jawahar Park, Laxmi Nagar, and had obtained a GST registration to give the business a legitimate façade. This registration was one of the pieces of evidence that helped the police confirm the nature of the operation.
Investigators seized bank statements revealing that large portions of the alleged fraud proceeds flowed into the firm’s account and Shelke’s personal account. They also collected mobile‑phone records, rent agreements, and other documents that mapped his movements.
Shelke has been remanded in custody while the EOW continues to probe his criminal antecedents and will soon schedule a hearing in a special court. The investigation underscores the need for stricter oversight of overseas employment agencies.