CBI Files Chargesheet in French Embassy Visa Fraud Case, Secures India’s First Interpol Silver Notice

New Delhi, June 11, 2025 – The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a chargesheet against eight individuals in a major visa fraud case linked to the French Embassy in New Delhi. The accused include a former Local Law Officer, his family members, two visa agents, and two middlemen. The scam targeted Schengen visa applicants from Punjab, charging them between ₹13 lakh and ₹45 lakh per visa.

The fraud operated from January 2021 to May 2022. The accused allegedly processed fake visa applications and destroyed documents to cover their tracks. Funds were laundered through multiple bank accounts before reaching the officer and his family. The CBI recovered large sums of cash and property documents worth crores in Delhi and Punjab.

In a historic move, the CBI secured India’s first Interpol Silver Notice to trace illicit assets abroad. Issued on May 23, 2025, the notice targets Shubham Shokeen, the former embassy officer, who allegedly acquired properties worth ₹15.73 crore in Dubai. The Silver Notice, part of Interpol’s pilot program, aids in tracking laundered assets globally.

The CBI coordinated with international agencies to gather evidence. The investigation revealed a well-organized network exploiting visa seekers. Shokeen, who fled India before the case was filed, was earlier tracked via an Interpol Blue Notice.

The chargesheet was filed before a special CBI court in New Delhi. The agency vows to continue probing cross-border financial crimes. This case marks a significant step in India’s fight against transnational fraud networks.