The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has conducted searches on the premises of a suspect in Ludhiana in connection with an ongoing probe into visa fraud in the French Embassy.
During the search, the agency seized about ₹70.10 lakh from a bank locker. The accused has been identified as Balwinder Singh Bartia.
According to the CBI, it zeroed in on Mr. Bartia after his alleged role in facilitating issuance of Schengen visas to the applicants came to light. “It was alleged that he collected cash ranging from ₹25 lakh to ₹45 lakh from each applicant for getting a Schengen visa from the Embassy of France [Delhi],” said an official.