MP made two similar trips to UK, US earlier : Police

New Delhi, Apr 19 (UNI) Three, instead of the hitherto believed two, forged passports were found in the possession of BJP parliamentarian Babu Bhai Katara, arrested yesterday from the IGI Airport on way to Toronto in Canada, who had also made two similar trips in the last two years.

While two of the seized passports were that of his wife Shardaben and his son Rajesh, the details of the third passport were being verified and its source investigated, DCP (Crime) Neeraj Thakur told mediapersons.

''During investigations, it was found that the MP had made two similar 'trips' in 2005 and 2006 to the United Kingdom and United States.'' The matter along with its financial dimensions were being probed, said the DCP.

''Several teams have been sent to various places, including Punjab, in connection with the investigations, which until now have revealed the involvement of travel agents from several cities and one Rajendra Singh, who was associated with the MP and was from Delhi.'' The deal amount of Rs 27 lakh was to be paid to the MP in Toronto, after the lady (Paramjit Kaur) accompanying Katara reached 'safely', said the DCP while adding that nothing could be got from the boy's interrogation as to how much money his parents had paid for his 'transition'.

''We are also investigating if any other person is involved in the illegal travel of people from here, including role of officials from the immigration department.'' While the husband of the 30-year-old lady, who hails from Hoshiarpur in Punjab, works in the United States, the boy (15) who is also a relative of Paramjit belongs to an agricultural family who also lives in the US, Mr Thakur added.

UNI