CBI raid at passport office turns out to be a hoax

Lucknow, Oct 30 (UNI) Fear gripped staffers and applicants at the Regional Passport Office(RPO) here today following the news of a CBI raid on the premises, which turned out to be a 'surprise check' by senior Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) officials.

The two main entrances of the RPO were locked from inside around 1300 hrs even as security guards discussed a CBI raid at the premises. A battery of photograhphers and TV cameramen positioned themselves outside the building.

It turned out that a group of senior MEA officials were carrying out a surprise check. ''Besides the check, they discussed plans to shift the RPO to a bigger location in Gomti Nagar area,'' said an official.

Policemen from the district had also accompanied the officials during the surprise check.

UNI