Mumbai: A shocking case of international identity fraud was uncovered at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, where a man was found to have held three passports and dual citizenship from Portugal and the United Kingdom, all obtained using a fake Indian passport.
The accused, identified as Sameer Lakhaani, had been flying internationally for several years without detection, until he was flagged at immigration on Monday night.
Around 8 PM, Sameer Mamodia (37) landed in Mumbai on a flight from London. During document checks by Immigration Officer Prasad Maghade, officials discovered that he had been placed on a lookout notice. He was detained and presented to Wing In-Charge Dinesh Pingulsar for further questioning. It was during this inquiry that his true identity and a web of fraud were uncovered.
Originally named Sameer Lakhaani, the accused held a legitimate Indian passport. In 2008, he attempted to travel to the UK but failed to secure a visa. Undeterred, he approached an agent in 2015 and acquired a fake Indian passport under the name Sameer Mamodia, claiming to be a resident of Diu-Daman.
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He later posed as the son of a Portuguese national to acquire Portuguese citizenship and a passport, using that to travel to London. He made at least two trips between India and the UK on the Portuguese passport.
Eventually, Lakhaani renounced Portuguese citizenship and acquired British citizenship, obtaining a UK passport. It was while travelling to India on this British passport that he was finally apprehended by Indian authorities.
Lakhaani successfully deceived not only the Indian Passport Authority and Immigration, but also foreign agencies, obtaining citizenship from two countries using fraudulent documents. Over seven years, he managed to manipulate three countries' systems — a rare and serious case of identity fraud.
Following a formal complaint by Immigration Officer Prasad Maghade, the Sahar Police Station registered an FIR against the accused under Section 12 of the Passport Act, Sections 318(4), 336(2), 336(3), and 340(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). An investigation is underway to trace the agents involved and identify any possible lapses in passport issuance systems.
