PANJIM: Gitaben Maheshkumar Patel (51), from Kadi, Mahesana district was apprehended at Ahmedabad airport, two days ago (on December 2) for possessing a duplicate Portuguese passport under the name Rita Menezes. Gitaben was flying into India using her original Indian passport. This was discovered at the international airport terminal – 2, counter – 11,
The Assistant Immigration Officer at the Ahmedabad airport, based on suspicion, checked her records and realised that Gitaben also had a Portuguese passport in the name of Rita Menezes.
During immigration clearance, discrepancies were noted, including the use of Rita Menezes’ date of birth and parentage in the Portuguese passport. Gitaben had previously departed India in 2015 and returned in 2023 using her Indian passport. However, in 2021, she entered India through Delhi and departed using the fraudulently obtained Portuguese passport under the name Rita Menezes.
Gitaben initially denied having a Portuguese passport during the preliminary inquiry, claiming only an Indian passport, despite similarities in photographs.
The officer filed a complaint, alleging that Gitaben had used the fake passport to secure India’s e-tourist visa and entered the country via Delhi in November 2021. During immigration, Gitaben was found to have fraudulently obtained the Portuguese passport using another Indian’s identity.
Accompanied by her husband Maheshkumar Ranchhodbhai Patel, Gitaben was handed over to the Airport police station for further investigation and legal actions. This incident parallels a previous case involving Tushal Menezes, handed over to SVPI police station on February 16, 2023.
