Man forges wife’s passport for lover, both deported

The truthful answer to one simple question not only crash-landed these city-based lovebirds' Canada dreams at the Dubai airport, the innocuous, but honest reply also put a question mark on the credibility of immigration officials at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International (SVPI) airport. Such is the power of truth!

The Dubai immigration officials deported back to city one Mehul Gotecha (31) a resident of Satellite and Mittal Panchal (26) a resident of Kadi, who were trying to sneak into Canada posing as husband and wife. Mittal was traveling on Mehul's actual wife, Tina Gotecha's passport.

"After landing at Dubai airport on October 20 in an Emirates flight (BK-538) the couple was interrogated by immigration officials there. The officials asked Mittal if she was travelling to Canada for the first time. And Mittal agreed - that was the undoing of the great escapade - which was enough for the hawk-eyed officials who apprehended them on basis of that reply as the actual passport holder, Tina, was a frequent flier to Canada," said Shamsher Singh, joint commissioner of police, special branch in-charge of immigration.

Singh said that Mittal was travelling on Mehul's wife Tina's passport and visa on which there were several stamps from Tina's earlier visits to Canada. According to Singh, the case, indeed, shows that the immigration officials at the city airport failed to detect the duo while verifying their documents. He also said that the counter officer, identified as one Paresh, has been removed from the cell with immediate effect.

According to sources Mehul is a software engineer with an MBA degree, while Mittal works as a nurse in a city-based hospital. Sources said that the two were in a relationship and was going to Canada for a vacation. Sources also said that the couple wanted to get married.

The immigration officials handed over the case to Sardarnagar police station after lodging an FIR against them. Primary investigation in the case has revealed names of three agents including one Mansukh from Mumbai who are said to have forged the passport for the couple.

Sources said Mehul paid Rs30,000 to Mansukh for forging wife Tina's passport and replacing her picture with that of his girlfriend's.

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