Jalandhar, October 30: In a significant development in the alleged illegal immigration case involving the donkey route to the United States, a Jalandhar court on Friday sent Delhi-based travel agent Tarun Khosla to judicial custody after the completion of his seven-day Enforcement Directorate (ED) remand.
Khosla was produced before the court after the investigating agency completed its initial round of questioning. The ED did not seek an extension of his custody, following which the court ordered that he be sent to jail under judicial custody.
The travel agent was arrested by the ED on October 23 in connection with its money-laundering investigation into an alleged network involved in sending Indian nationals to the United States through illegal immigration routes. He was subsequently brought to Jalandhar and produced before a special court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
During the seven-day custody period, the agency questioned him regarding his alleged role in the network, financial transactions and connections with other individuals suspected of facilitating illegal immigration.
The investigation is linked to the deportation of hundreds of Indian nationals from the United States in February 2025. Following their return, several complaints and cases relating to alleged immigration fraud came under investigation.
The ED has been examining the alleged involvement of travel agents, middlemen and other associates who reportedly collected substantial amounts of money from people promising to arrange their journey to the United States. Investigators are also looking into the financial transactions and assets suspected to be connected with the alleged network.
With the latest court order, Khosla will remain in judicial custody while the investigation and further legal proceedings continue.
The case has drawn considerable attention in Punjab, particularly in Jalandhar, as the investigation involves alleged links between travel agents and a wider illegal immigration network. Further developments are expected as the investigating agency continues its probe.
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