Mumbai: A 24-year-old Nepali national, Shem Ramsingh Batla, has been booked by Azad Maidan Police for allegedly impersonating an Indian citizen to fraudulently obtain a Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) for employment in New Zealand.
Batla had applied online for a PCC at the Special Branch-II of the Mumbai Police, stating that he needed it for a work visa to join a restaurant named Blue Door in New Zealand as a chef.
During verification of the documents he submitted, officials discovered that although Batla is a Nepali citizen (Passport No: PA1959389), he had deceptively used an Indian Voter ID (ROL4683017) to support his application.
According to police, Batla had submitted the Indian Voter ID between September 27 and October 22, 2024, claiming Indian nationality. Further scrutiny revealed that the same voter ID was used to vote in the 2019 Indian elections — a right reserved only for Indian citizens — thereby confirming fraudulent intent.
A complaint in this matter was filed by Police Officer Pravin Doiphode of the Special Branch-II. Following the complaint, a case has been registered against Batla under Section 318(4) of the BNS, pertaining to fraud and misrepresentation before a government body.Further investigation is underway.
