A Goa resident accused of using forged documents to obtain a passport was apprehended in Chennai after absconding, police said on Sunday. The accused, Pankaj Choure, hails from Khorlim village near Mapusa in North Goa. According to a police spokesperson, Choure allegedly submitted fake documents via the online passport application portal in an attempt to secure a passport under false pretenses.
Choure had an appointment scheduled at the passport office in Patto, Panaji, on June 30. During his interaction with officials at the office, the passport officer became suspicious about the authenticity of the documents submitted. “The officer detected inconsistencies and suspected foul play during the verification process,” the spokesperson said. Sensing that he might be caught, Choure reportedly fled the office before officials could take further action.
Following his sudden disappearance, a thorough verification of the documents was conducted. It was discovered that the address on the Aadhaar card provided by Choure was fake, confirming the officer’s suspicions. The Panjim police promptly launched a search operation to locate the accused. They employed a combination of technical surveillance and human intelligence to track his movements.
After several days of investigation, police traced Choure to Chennai. A team from Panjim police, with assistance from their Chennai counterparts, apprehended him on Saturday. “He was located and detained in Chennai, and is now being brought back to Goa for further investigation,” the spokesperson added.
Police officials stated that Choure will be formally arrested upon his return to Goa. The case highlights the authorities’ vigilance in detecting and addressing document fraud, especially in sensitive processes like passport issuance. The investigation is ongoing, and further action will be taken as per legal procedures.