Trafficking scam kingpin surrenders in Hyderabad

Rasheed, a passport agent and prime suspect in the human trafficking case, surrendered before the Hyderabad police on Thursday afternoon.

Accompanied by three lawyers, Rasheed walked to the Central Crime Station (Police Control Room) near Lal Bahadur Stadium in the city around 1 pm and gave himself over to the police.

It may be recalled that a manhunt was launched for Rasheed ever since his name figured in the human trafficking case involving Bharatiya Janata Party member of Parliament Babubhai Katara and others last month.

Subsequently, Rasheed's name was also linked to the cases in which Telugu Rashtra Samiti legisator Kasipeta Lingaiah and other TRS MLAs and MPs had allegedly secured passports in the names of their spouses and family members by replacing their pictures with other persons for human trafficking.

Before being taken away by police for interrogation, Rasheed claimed that he had no role in human trafficking and alleged that he was being dragged into the case as part of a conspiracy. 

"I am innocent. I have absolutely nothing to do with this case," Rasheed told waiting newsmen before being whisked away by the police.

Speaking to a Telugu TV channel, Rasheed said that he decided to surrender himself to the police, fearing for his life as he was getting threats from some political leaders.

"After my name was dragged in the media, I started getting threatening calls on my cellphone. So, after switching off the cellphone, I was on the run for several days. I was in hiding but decided to hand myself over to the police for personal security," he said. 

"I am innocent. I am not at all guilty. I do not know anything about Kasipeta Lingaiah (TRS MLA who surrendered in connection with fabricated passport case) or anybody else. I have no involvement in this episode. I only did what I was told to do. I am not at all at fault. I know nothing about (BJP MP Babubhai Katara) this case. I don't know him and I have never met him," Rasheed added.

One of Rasheed's lawyers also claimed that his client was "innocent."

"Rasheed has nothing to do with this scam. He is not an accused in any of the cases, including Babubhai Katara case. He is an innocent person. He has surrendered before the police only because his name figured in media reports quoting the police and others. He is not a passport agent or a broker. He himself does not have a passport. He has been implicated in this case, He is being made a scapegoat," the lawyer said.

Meanwhile, the Hyderabad City Police Central Crime Station officials led by additional deputy commissioner of police (Crime) are interrogating Rasheed at the Police Control Room.

CCS teams also organised searches at the residence of Rasheed and his relatives in Malakpet and Saidabad areas in the city to unearth any evidence linking him to the human trafficking case. The police is likely to formalise his arrest and produce him before a magistrate by evening.

Ever since human trafficking scam came to light with the arrest of BJP MP Babubhai Katara at Delhi international airport, reports have been doing rounds suggesting that Rasheed was a crucial player in forging passports and that he had contacts with several politicians.

With his surrender, the police hope to unearth the racket and investigate the alleged role of some of the politicians from Andhra Pradesh in the scandal.

The trafficking scam has already set off political tremors in TRS, leading to suspension of its senior MP and second-in-command A Narendra following his alleged involvement.

Narendra had hit back at the party supremo and MP K Chandrasekhar Rao accusing him of sending people abroad illegally using fake passports and forged documents.

A rebel TRS MLA K Lingaiah is in police custody, facing the charge that he had obtained a passport for a woman from Gujarat in the name of his wife.

The police is also on the lookout for another TRS MLA from Adilabad district S Bapurao in the wake of reports suggesting his role in the fake passport scam.

With PTI inputs