Delhi Police Detain Punjabi Singer For Illegal US Immigration Scheme

Fatehjit Singh, a Punjabi singer famous for songs like "Paranda," was arrested by Delhi Police on Wednesday. He faces charges of organising fake visas for people trying to enter the US through illegal means. Fatehjit had been on the run since March and was finally caught at Indira Gandhi International Airport.

According to Usha Rangnani, Deputy Commissioner of Police (IGI Airport), "He confessed to arranging the fake visa for Gurpreet Singh to go to Brazil. He was involved in all five attempts to send Gurpreet to the US." Gurpreet Singh's journey included stops in Bhutan, Thailand, and Kazakhstan, allegedly as part of his quest for the American Dream.

Gurpreet Singh made five attempts to reach the US via illegal routes—four times in 2023 and once in 2024. On March 8, 2023, he was deported from Almaty, Kazakhstan, after authorities found torn pages in his passport. These torn pages were suspected to be fake visas or immigration stamps.

The police revealed that Sultan Singh, an agent aged 32, arranged all these routes for Gurpreet. Sultan was arrested in March following Gurpreet's instance. The torn pages on Gurpreet's passport were linked to a previous deportation incident in 2023 when Sultan provided him with a fake visa for Brazil. Just before boarding a flight from Qatar, Sultan tore those pages, leading to Gurpreet's return to India.

Sultan charged Rs 50 lakh for arranging Gurpreet's travel to the US. He took an advance payment of Rs 10 lakh with the remaining amount due upon Gurpreet's arrival in the US. An officer involved in the operation stated this financial arrangement.

Rangnani added that "Sultan revealed that Fatehjit Singh, a Punjabi singer who has done shows abroad as well, was also involved in arranging routes for Gurpreet to get him to the US." Fatehjit met Sultan through work commitments and needed money. He received Rs 4 lakh as commission from Sultan out of the Rs 10 lakh given by Gurpreet.

Further Investigations

The police are investigating Fatehjit's involvement in other cases of illegal immigration, either with Sultan or other associates. Fatehjit Singh is a native of Jalandhar and has multiple music videos on YouTube.

Gurpreet Singh's journey began when he left India for Bhutan and then travelled to Thailand before landing in Kazakhstan. His attempts at reaching the US through illegal means highlight the lengths some individuals go to realise their dreams.

The case underscores the complex network involved in human trafficking and illegal immigration. It also sheds light on how individuals exploit such networks for financial gain at the expense of others' aspirations.