After 10 years, man held for using fake passport

The arrested person was identified as Arivumani, a native of Tiruvarur. The police said that Arivumani went to London in 2008 using fake documents. He was working at a departmental store and bakery in London. Recently, he decided to visit his hometown.

As he cannot use the fake documents to return, Arivumani contacted the Indian High Commission in London and reportedly said that someone had stolen his passport and visa. He had told them that he reached London six months ago on a tourist visa. Believing him, the officials immediately issued him an emergency certificate.

Arivumani booked a ticket using the emergency certificate and reached the Chennai airport on a British Airways flight on Tuesday. The immigration officials, while checking his travel documents, grilled Arivumani after looking at the emergency certificate.

Arivumani claimed that he went to London six months ago. However, the officials could not find any records for his travel. After he was inquired for the whole day, he confessed that he went to London using fake documents 10 years ago. On Wednesday morning, Arivumani was handed over to the Central Crime Branch of the city police for further inquiry.