Fraud agents rule Kozhikode passport office premises

KOZHIKODE: The Kozhikode passport office surroundings have been taken over by illegal agents who prey on the applicants and take money from them. The Passport office had forwarded more than three complaints to the city police commissionerate but no action has been taken so far.

The illegal agents wait for the applicants outside the passport office and before they can approach the counter inside, snatch all the documents from them. The applicants then have to follow what the agents say and end up paying 10 or 15 times more than the legal fees.

“We collect Rs 100 at our counters from the applicants whereas we have been told that the applicants are forced to shell out as much as Rs 1500 per application when they fall victim to these agents,” Kozhikode passport officer, K.P. Madhusoodanan, told DC.

These agents even tear up the applications of the victims if they refuse to pay the charges they demand. “It has been a menace and we have complained thrice to the city commissioner of police. Two police personnel had come to my office and enquired, but no action seems to have followed,” Mr Madhusoodanan said.

When contacted, city commissioner of police, P.A. Valsan said that the matter had not been brought to his notice so far. “We will immediately take action and will post our people to take care of this issue. I have not been told about such an issue so far,” he emphasised.

Meanwhile, sources in the passport office told DC that these agents had been working hand in glove with local policemen. “Local police know what is happening here but they refuse to act. These agents have links with local policemen and they are paying them money regularly,” a passport office employee said.