Punjabi singer arrested for facilitating travel to US via 'donkey route'
PTC Web Desk: Punjabi singer Fatehjit Singh has been arrested from Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, on charges of facilitating illegal immigration to the United States via the "donkey route." According to Delhi Police, Singh was implicated in arranging travel for individuals to the US using this method.
Fatehjit Sing, who first gained prominence with his 2019 hit song "Surma," recently released a new track titled "Paranda." DCP, IGI, Usha Rangnani said during interrogation, singer Fatehjit Sing said he had studied only up to Class 12. Singh, who has performed in shows across multiple countries, was reportedly in contact with an agent named Sultan Singh. Singh and Sultan Singh are accused of defrauding people by promising to facilitate their travel to the US under false pretenses.
According to DCP Rangnani, the singer revealed that Gurpreet Singh, one of the victims, approached Sultan Singh with the intention of travelling to the US. Singh allegedly promised to arrange the travel in exchange for Rs 50 lakh. The deal required an upfront payment of Rs 50 lakh, with Rs 4 lakh being Fatehjit Singh’s commission.
Police reports indicate that Singh and his accomplices made five attempts to send the victim to the US, routing the journey through various countries. One of these attempts involved travelling through Kazakhstan, where the authorities detected the fraudulent scheme, leading to the deportation of the person back to India.
The Delhi Police are currently investigating Singh's bank accounts and are examining whether he has been involved in other similar illegal activities.
- With inputs from our correspondent