Two foreign nationals arrested in Bengaluru airport passport swap scam

Bengaluru: A sophisticated passport and boarding pass swap at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) has led to the arrest of two foreign nationals on charges of attempting to bypass immigration checks using exchanged boarding passes and fake travel documents. The case has prompted separate criminal proceedings under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025.

Immigration authorities alleged that on June 23, Chiwarajah Dachshan, a Canadian passport holder, and Sinnappu Subakaran, a Sri Lankan national, exchanged their boarding passes to travel on different international flights. Dachshan was originally booked on Air India flight AI-133 to London, while Subakaran was scheduled to fly to Singapore on Singapore Airlines flight SQ-509.

According to investigators, Subakaran attempted to board the London-bound flight using Dachshan’s boarding pass. During security and immigration checks, officials discovered discrepancies in the travel documents and found that the boarding pass did not match his identity. Further examination revealed alleged forged immigration stamps and fake passport documents.

Before the alleged fraud was detected, Dachshan boarded SQ-509 using Subakaran’s boarding pass. Upon arrival in Singapore, immigration authorities allegedly rejected his entry after he produced a fake Sri Lankan passport, declaring him an inadmissible passenger. He was subsequently returned to Bengaluru.

Immigration officials alleged that the duo deliberately exchanged boarding passes to evade immigration scrutiny and facilitate international travel using fraudulent identities. The investigation further suggests that forged passports and counterfeit immigration stamps were used during the attempted journey.

Based on separate complaints filed by Immigration Officer Kasinatha Durai and airline official Mallesha A.S., the police registered two connected cases against the accused under Sections 319(2) and 336(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, along with Section 22 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025.

The investigation is continuing to determine the source of the forged travel documents and whether a larger document-forgery or human-smuggling network is involved.