Passport seekers are easy prey for touts in Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada

Visakhapatnam: Though the ministry of external affairs has simplified the process of getting a passport, touts still rule the roost in Vizag, and Vijayawada. Several procedures have changed, but when it comes to police verification, passport applicants still keep an envelope with money in it.

It is stated that police constables of the Special Branch collect Rs 300 to Rs 500 for police verification reports from the applicants.

Not only those who are digitally-illiterate but also students of engineering and management colleges in Vizag and Vijayawada are approaching touts to fill up their applications and uploading data despite several awareness camps being held by the passport office, said Passport Officer N.L.P. Choudary.

It was a surprise that some students aren’t too confident to filling the form and are going to touts, he said

The modus operandi of the touts is quite simple. They keep any eye out for applicants at the Passport Seva Kendras, strike a conversation with them and convince them that obtaining a passport is a tough task due to the series of verification processes.

They offer to smoothen the process. The touts have links with some Internet café owners where applicants are taken to fill in the form. They charge Rs 600 to Rs 2,000 depending on the desperation of the applicant, said Ganesh Kumar K., an agent.

As per the norms, passport applicants, born after January 26, 1989, have to submit their birth certificate, issued by the Register of Birth and Deaths. Applicants who do not have the birth certificate approach the agents, who cheat them by handing over fake certificates.

Several applications were pending as the applicants furnished forged certificates, said a passport official.

Due to fear of getting an adverse report and not getting a passport, people pay bribes to the police personnel who visit their house for verification. The report is extremely important for passport officials to process the applications.

Mr B. Anil Kumar said he had applied for a passport and a police constable from Special Branch came to his home along with some papers. “After asking me a couple of questions such as name, residence, profession, and father’s name, the police constable stressed on the formality for verification. I paid him Rs 200 but he demanded Rs 300 more, so I paid Rs 500,” he said.

The department receives at least 250 passport applications daily which goes up to 500 during the passport melas for police verification. Asked about it, ADCP (Special Branch) P.V. Ravikumar said the police had not received any formal complaint. “If we get a complaint, we will act accordingly,” he added.