Indian police have arrested a Sri Lankan national who allegedly provided fake passports to four of his compatriots who wanted to travel to the UK, The Hindu reported. 

Rayyapan Thevkuram was absconding since the racket came to light in March, and Mumbai Police had issued a look-out notice for him. On Friday, immigration officials detained him at Chennai airport and handed him over to Mumbai Police, said Senior PI Baburao Mukhedkar of Sahar police station. 

A local court remanded him in police custody till Tuesday. Police are looking for another person, Thevkuram’s partner, in the case, Mr. Mukhedkar said. In March, police had arrested four British nationals and as many Sri Lankans at Mumbai airport.

The Sri Lankans, Arunasalam Suthakaran, Kannathasan Kartheevan, Ganjan Chandrabalan and Kandasamy Kaveenthini, could not obtain visas for the UK, so Thevkuram and his accomplice enlisted the help of British nationals Bower Oliver, Juillian Alan, Fivehats Captain and Warner Ann, police said. Thevkuram allegedly made fake passports in the name of these UK nationals and gave them to the Lankans.

The Britishers arrived here on March 2 and bought tickets for London. The Sri Lankans arrived here on March 9 with their fake passports in British names. On March 10, the Lankans came to Mumbai airport where the Britishers handed them tickets and boarding passes. However, the airport authorities became suspicious and detained them, bringing the racket to light.

-Agencies