BJP MP, woman detained at Delhi airport

In a shocking development, a BJP Member of Parliament from Gujarat, Babubhai Katara, was detained today at the Delhi international airport by Immigration authorities, for trying to take a woman abroad on his wife’s passport. Katara was due to board Air India flight 187 from Delhi to Torronto, but was stopped by authorities inside the airport.
Initially Katara claimed that he was travelling with his wife, but broke down upon insistent questioning and later said the woman was not his spouse. Further investigation revealed that Katara’s companion, a woman in her mid twenties by the name of Parminder, was travelling on his wife’s passport and had had her photograph affixed on top of the original of Katara’s wife.

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The woman paid Katara
Rs 30,00,000

Unconfirmed sources said that this
could be more than a case of
impersonation, hinting at human
trafficking. Sources said Paramjit had
paid Katara Rs 30,00,000 to be taken
to Toronto. There was reportedly a
14-year-old boy also traveling with
them. While Katara and the boy had
valid passports, Paramjit was travelling
on Katara’s wife’s passport. Katara and
Paramjit were scheduled to board the
Air-India flight 187 to Toronto.
The BJP said on Wednesday
afternoon that if the charges against
Katara were proven, action would be
taken against him.
18/04/07 CNN-IBN
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Authorities made some inquiries and found that Katara’s wife was still in Gujarat. While Katara cited the excuse of not knowing the rules, Parminder admitted that she knew Katara but was unable to explain why she was travelling with him to Torronto.
At 2:00 pm today Katara and Parminder were still being interrogated by Immigration and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) officials, but sources said the two would soon be handed over to the Delhi police for arrest and further questioning, after an official complaint was registered with them.
The sources also said a team of intelligence bureau officers arriving shortly at the airport to question Katara on whether the diplomatic passport issued to the MP was also genuine, whether he had made similar attempts in the past, or if this is part of a larger human trafficking racket.
18/04/07 Times Now.tv

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Categories: Airports Apr 2007, Safety Apr 2007