This story is from November 18, 2014

Indian high commission failed to detect dubious visa certificate

The dubious sponsorship certificate for visa of a Pakistani national that surfaced in Godhra has raised eyebrows among Panchmahal police that are concerned at how the glaring irregularity in the sponsorship certificate went unnoticed at the high commission.
Indian high commission failed to detect dubious visa certificate
VADODARA: The dubious sponsorship certificate for visa of a Pakistani national that surfaced in Godhra has raised eyebrows among Panchmahal police that are concerned at how the glaring irregularity in the sponsorship certificate went unnoticed at the high commission. The cops suspect the matter to be a part of a larger racket.
The police had sought the sponsorship certificate furnished by Aslam Hafiz for Faizan Shabir from the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.
As per rules, the certificate should have been signed by a gazetted officer. But it transpired that while the certificate had the stamp of Godhra 'B' division police inspector, it had the sign of a head constable, B B Pateliya, whose identity card's copy was attached with the certificate. Pateliya has denied that he signed the document.
A senior officer said that anybody would know that a head constable is not a gazetted officer.
"His identity card was also attached with the certificate and even with the signature he had mentioned his designation," said the officer.
The Panchmahal police have written to the high commission seeking more such sponsorship certificates used with visa applications. "We are awaiting a reply," said the officer.
While the sponsorship certificate is evidently dubious, the police are yet to pinpoint who was responsible for it. While Pateliya denied signing the document, Aslam Hafiz admitted to the police that he knew Faizan Shabir and wanted the certificate for him. He said that he had entrusted one Ramzani Zuzara with the task. Zuzara is a prominent minority community leader from BJP.
The police are trying to ascertain if the head constable actually signed the document. "He may have done so or his identity card's photocopy obtained in some way may have been used along with a forged signature," said an official.
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