Why is News :
- A major Schengen visa fraud has been uncovered involving an Indian Local Law Officer at the French Embassy in New Delhi. The CBI has filed a chargesheet against eight individuals, revealing a widespread visa-for-cash network targeting Punjabi applicants.
Key Facts of the Case:
Timeframe: January 2021 to May 2022.
Accused: Shubham Shokeen (Local Law Officer), his family members, two visa agents, and two middlemen.
Modus Operandi:
- Charged up to ₹45 lakh per applicant for Schengen visa approvals.
- Targeted individuals from Punjab seeking to migrate
- Destroyed documents after visa issuance to erase trail.
- Laundered money via domestic/international bank accounts.
- Investments worth ₹15.7 crore made in Dubai properties.
- Recovery: Cash, land records, and properties uncovered in Delhi and Punjab.
CBI Intervention:
- Filed a chargesheet against 8 accused.
- Issued a Blue Notice to locate the absconding officer.
- Secured India’s first INTERPOL Silver Notice to trace overseas assets.
INTERPOL Silver Notice
Launched: 2023 (pilot phase till 2025)
Participants: 52 countries, including India
Purpose:
- To trace and recover criminal assets linked to illegal activities.
- Helps identify laundered properties, vehicles, financial accounts, businesses, etc.
- Crimes Covered: Fraud, corruption, drug trafficking, environmental crimes
INTERPOL Notices
Total Types: 8 types + 1 INTERPOL–UNSC Special Notice
Requested by:
- Member countries via INTERPOL National Central Bureau (BHARATPOL in India)
- UN, International Criminal Tribunals, International Criminal Court
INTERPOL
Founded: 1923 in Vienna
HQ: Lyon, France
India’s Membership: Since 1949
Role: Facilitates global police cooperation for international crime control
BHARATPOL Portal: India’s national portal to coordinate with INTERPOL efficiently.
Significance of Interpol Silver Notice
- Used to track assets acquired through proceeds of international crime.
- Shows growing cooperation in transnational financial crimes.
- Helps India enhance global enforcement reach against economic offenders.
Implications for Governance and Policy
Highlights loopholes in embassy oversight, especially in visa processing.
Calls for:
- Stronger vetting and rotation policies for embassy local staff.
- Digital traceability of visa applications.
- Cross-border cooperation in fraud monitoring.
- Raises concern over human trafficking networks using legal channels for unlawful migration.
Ethical and Legal Issues Involved
- Abuse of public trust in a diplomatic institution.
- Misuse of legal migration systems.
- Violation of anti-money laundering laws and foreign asset disclosure norms.
- Raises questions about the accountability of embassy operations involving local staff.
Schengen Visa
Purpose: Required for some non-Europeans to enter all 27 Schengen countries.
Validity: Allows travel for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Use: Enables borderless travel across Schengen nations.
Restriction: Not valid for employment (no right to work).
Schengen Area
Comprises: 27 European nations, including: 23 EU members (excluding Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland, and Romania)
4 non-EU countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland (members of EFTA)
Features:
- No internal border checks, except in specific threat cases.
- Unified external border controls based on shared standards.
UPSC Relevance :
GS II – Governance
Transparency & accountability in diplomatic missions, abuse of office
GS II – International Relations
India-France diplomatic cooperation, cross-border crime
GS III – Internal Security
Economic offences, money laundering, international enforcement
GS IV – Ethics
Conflict of interest, abuse of position, public service accountability
Possible Mains Question :
How can India strengthen its regulatory and international cooperation mechanisms to curb transnational white-collar crimes?