BATHINDA: Three years after a Canada immigration scandal rocked Punjab, a Ludhiana-based firm allegedly duped dozens of students seeking Australian study visas by using forged bank documents.The scam has left many students facing visa cancellations and deportation, with several already deported.Barnala Police arrested Gurbaz Singh alias Varundeep Singh Kalra, co-owner of an immigration company, Smart Study Immigration, Ludhiana, late Thursday night, and booked his brother and partner, Harsimranjit Singh.To determine the full scale of the fraud, police have approached the ministry of external affairs (MEA) to coordinate directly with Australian immigration authorities to ascertain the quantum of the fraud.At least three students have already been deported, said SSP Md Sarfaraz Alam.Dozens of others have received official notices from Australian authorities asking why their visas should not be revoked.The fraud came to light following a complaint by Harvinder Singh, manager of One Globe Immigration, Bhikhi, Mansa, who referred 40 to 45 students to the accused for visa processing.For “Level-2” Australian visa applications, applicants must show proof of funds worth Rs 30-35 lakh held for at least three months.Without the knowledge of the students or the referring agent, the accused fabricated and submitted fake bank documents to secure the visas.The SSP said the accused colluded with chartered accountants and bank officials to forge these financial records and secure college confirmations of enrolment.The scam unraveled in 2025 when Australian immigration detected the forged financial files.When the referring agent confronted Gurbaz and Harsimranjit, they refused to refund security deposits and threatened him, prompting the police complaint.An inquiry by the Barnala Economic Offences Wing confirmed prima facie evidence of criminal conspiracy and cheating.SSP Alam said the investigation is actively progressing to identify all affected students, trace the money trail, and uncover the full extent of the conspiracy, including the involvement of bank officials or other accomplices.This case resembles the 2023 Jalandhar immigration scandal.In that case, agent Brijesh Mishra was arrested by Canadian authorities for defrauding hundreds of Punjabi students using fake college acceptance letters, eventually leading to his conviction.
