New Delhi: In a groundbreaking development, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has secured India’s first-ever Interpol Silver Notice to track the global assets of Shubham Shokeen, a former law officer in the visa department of the French Embassy in New Delhi. Shokeen is accused of orchestrating a large-scale Schengen visa fraud, defrauding hundreds of applicants, primarily from Punjab, by charging exorbitant fees of up to Rs 45 lakh per visa. This elaborate scam, which ran undetected from January 2021 to May 2022, involved Shokeen, his family, and a network of visa agents and middlemen who laundered the illicit proceeds through domestic and international bank accounts, amassing properties worth crores in India and abroad.
The Schengen Visa Fraud: A Multimillion-Rupee Scam
The Schengen visa, an entry permit for non-EU nationals allowing short-term visits of up to 90 days within a 180-day period in the Schengen area, is highly sought after by Indian citizens for travel to the European Union (EU). According to VFS Global, a short-term Schengen visa costs Rs 8,500 for Indian adults, while a long-term visa costs Rs 7,100. However, the accused, Shubham Shokeen, exploited this demand by charging applicants, mostly from Punjab, between Rs 13 lakh and Rs 45 lakh per visa.
Shokeen, a local law officer in the visa department of the French Embassy in New Delhi, operated the scam between January 2021 and May 2022. He collaborated with a network of eight individuals, including his father, brother, wife, two visa agents (Balwinder Singh Bartia and Pritpal Singh), and two middlemen (Jashandeep Singh Sidhu and Bhawan Shokeen). The group targeted visa applicants through a network of agents based in Punjab, promising to process their Schengen visa applications in exchange for exorbitant payments. After the visas were issued, Shokeen destroyed the applicants’ documents and files to eliminate evidence, allowing the scam to go unnoticed for over a year.
The CBI’s investigation revealed that the accused used the illicit proceeds to purchase multiple properties worth crores in India and abroad. The money was funneled through various domestic and international bank accounts, complicating the financial trail. The agency’s efforts to trace these assets led to the issuance of India’s first Interpol Silver Notice, a significant milestone in cross-border asset recovery.
Interpol Silver Notice: A New Tool for Asset Recovery
The Interpol Silver Notice is a novel mechanism introduced as part of a pilot project running until November 2025. Designed to facilitate cross-border asset recovery, it allows member countries to collect information on the assets of fugitives and key accused individuals, even if those assets are located abroad. India is among the 51 member countries participating in the first phase of this initiative, with each nation permitted to request up to nine notices during the pilot phase. The first Silver Notice was published by Interpol in January 2025 at Italy’s request, with India’s notice for Shubham Shokeen marking a significant achievement for the CBI.
The Silver Notice was issued at the request of the CBI’s International Operations Division, in coordination with the International Police Cooperation Unit, to trace Shokeen’s assets abroad. This notice enables law enforcement agencies in Interpol’s 196 member countries to share critical information about the accused’s financial holdings, enhancing the CBI’s ability to recover the proceeds of the visa fraud. The CBI’s success in securing this notice underscores India’s growing role in international law enforcement cooperation.
CBI’s Investigation: Unraveling the Money Trail
The CBI’s investigation into the Schengen visa scam began following a tip-off, leading to the registration of a case by the agency’s International Operations Division. Over the course of a three-year investigation, the CBI uncovered a sophisticated network of fraudsters who exploited the visa application process at the French Embassy. The agency’s findings, detailed in a press release dated June 11, 2025, revealed that Shokeen and his accomplices targeted applicants from Punjab, inducing them to pay large sums of money for Schengen visas.
The CBI established that the scam operated as follows:
- Visa Agents: Balwinder Singh Bartia and Pritpal Singh, key co-conspirators, collected payments ranging from Rs 13 lakh to Rs 45 lakh per applicant. These agents, primarily based in Punjab, funneled the money through various bank accounts.
- Money Laundering: The illicit funds were transferred through domestic and international accounts, ultimately reaching Shokeen and his family members—his father, brother, and wife—via middlemen Jashandeep Singh Sidhu and Bhawan Shokeen.
- Asset Acquisition: The accused used the laundered money to acquire properties worth crores in Delhi, Punjab, and international locations.
- Evidence Destruction: Shokeen destroyed visa documents and files processed at the French Embassy to cover his tracks.
During the investigation, the CBI recovered substantial evidence, including large amounts of cash and documents related to properties acquired by the accused. The agency coordinated with multiple domestic and international organizations to secure evidence, culminating in the filing of a charge sheet against Shokeen, his three family members, and four other accused individuals before a special CBI court in New Delhi.
Shubham Shokeen: A Fugitive on the Run
Shubham Shokeen, the mastermind behind the visa scam, is currently a fugitive, believed to have fled India to evade arrest. The CBI has intensified its efforts to locate him, with the Interpol Silver Notice playing a critical role in tracking his global assets. The agency’s charge sheet, filed on June 11, 2025, before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate in the Special CBI court, alleges that Shokeen amassed massive wealth in the form of cash and prime properties during his tenure at the French Embassy.
The CBI’s spokesperson emphasized the agency’s commitment to tackling cross-border crime, stating, “CBI is committed to tackle crime across international boundaries and help victims in India and abroad, who have been duped by such criminal networks.” The issuance of the Silver Notice is a testament to the CBI’s coordination with Interpol’s National Central Bureau (NCB) in India, which serves as the point of contact for Interpol affairs through the Bharat Pol portal.
Understanding the Schengen Visa
A Schengen visa is an entry permit for non-EU nationals to visit the Schengen area, which comprises 26 European countries, including France, Germany, and Italy. According to the Migration and Home Affairs department of the EU, Schengen visas come in three forms:
- Single-Entry Visa: Allows one entry into the Schengen area.
- Multiple-Entry Visa: Permits multiple visits for as long as the visa is valid.
- Airport Transit Visa: Allows connection through the international transit area of an airport in the Schengen area without leaving the transit zone.
Citizens of certain non-EU countries, including India, require a Schengen visa to travel to the Schengen area, with exceptions for specific categories such as diplomats and armed forces personnel. Indian holders of diplomatic passports are exempt from short-stay visa requirements for France and several other Schengen countries, including Germany, Bulgaria, and Sweden. Official passport holders are also exempt for certain countries, such as Bulgaria and Denmark.
In India, Schengen visa applications are processed by French consulates in Mumbai, Puducherry, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and the visa section of the French Embassy in New Delhi. Applicants must submit their applications at least five days prior to departure for short-stay visas, or one month prior for long-stay visas. Applications cannot be submitted more than six months before the scheduled departure.
Interpol and India’s Role
Established as the International Criminal Police Commission (ICPC) in 1923 during the 2nd International Police Congress in Vienna, Interpol was renamed in 1956 and is headquartered in Lyon, France. With 196 member countries, including India as a founding member, Interpol facilitates international police cooperation through its National Central Bureaus (NCBs). In India, the CBI serves as the NCB, utilizing the Bharat Pol portal to connect Indian law enforcement agencies with Interpol.
Interpol’s color-coded notices—Red, Blue, Black, and Yellow—enable member countries to share critical crime-related information. The Silver Notice, a recent addition, focuses on asset recovery, making it a powerful tool for combating financial crimes. India’s participation in the pilot phase of the Silver Notice initiative highlights its commitment to addressing transnational crime.
Implications and Future Outlook
The issuance of India’s first Interpol Silver Notice marks a significant step in the fight against cross-border financial crimes. By targeting Shubham Shokeen’s assets, the CBI has set a precedent for leveraging international cooperation to recover illicit proceeds. This case also exposes vulnerabilities in visa processing systems and underscores the need for stricter oversight to prevent such frauds.
As the CBI continues its pursuit of Shokeen and his accomplices, the case serves as a warning to fraudsters exploiting the aspirations of visa applicants. The agency’s collaboration with Interpol and other international agencies demonstrates India’s resolve to uphold justice and protect victims of financial crimes, both domestically and abroad.
For those seeking Schengen visas, this case highlights the importance of applying through authorized channels and avoiding unscrupulous agents. The French Government’s website provides clear guidelines for visa applications, ensuring transparency and fairness in the process.
In conclusion, the CBI’s success in securing India’s first Interpol Silver Notice is a landmark achievement in international law enforcement. As the pilot project continues until November 2025, India’s proactive role in global asset recovery efforts is likely to inspire further advancements in tackling transnational crime.
FAQs
1.What is the Interpol Silver Notice, and why was it issued in the French Embassy visa fraud case?
The Interpol Silver Notice is a specialized alert designed to facilitate cross-border asset recovery by tracking the global assets of fugitives or key accused individuals. In the French Embassy visa fraud case, it was issued at the request of India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to trace the international assets of Shubham Shokeen, a former law officer accused of defrauding Schengen visa applicants of up to Rs 45 lakh per visa. The notice helps locate and recover illicit proceeds parked abroad, acquired through the scam between January 2021 and May 2022.
2.How did Shubham Shokeen and his accomplices execute the Schengen visa scam?
Shubham Shokeen, a local law officer in the visa department of the French Embassy in New Delhi, collaborated with his father, brother, wife, two visa agents (Balwinder Singh Bartia and Pritpal Singh), and two middlemen (Jashandeep Singh Sidhu and Bhawan Shokeen). They targeted applicants, primarily from Punjab, charging Rs 13 lakh to Rs 45 lakh per Schengen visa. The money was funneled through various domestic and international bank accounts, and Shokeen destroyed visa documents to eliminate evidence, allowing the scam to operate undetected from January 2021 to May 2022.
3.What is a Schengen visa, and why is it significant in this case?
A Schengen visa is an entry permit for non-EU nationals, allowing short-term visits of up to 90 days within a 180-day period in the Schengen area, which includes 26 European countries like France and Germany. The visa’s high demand in India made it a target for fraud, with Shokeen exploiting applicants by charging exorbitant fees compared to the official costs (Rs 8,500 for short-term and Rs 7,100 for long-term visas). The scam involved issuing legitimate visas but destroying related documents to cover the financial trail.
4.How did the CBI uncover the visa fraud, and what actions have they taken?
The CBI launched an investigation following a tip-off and found evidence of the scam through a three-year probe. They uncovered a money trail involving laundered funds and properties worth crores in India and abroad. The CBI filed a charge sheet against Shokeen, his three family members, and four others on June 11, 2025, before a special CBI court in New Delhi. They also coordinated with Interpol to secure India’s first Silver Notice to trace Shokeen’s overseas assets, as he is believed to have fled the country.
5.What is the significance of India’s participation in the Interpol Silver Notice pilot project?
India is one of 51 member countries in the Interpol Silver Notice pilot project, which runs until November 2025, with each nation allowed to request up to nine notices. The issuance of India’s first Silver Notice in January 2025 highlights the country’s commitment to combating transnational financial crimes. By leveraging this tool, the CBI demonstrates India’s growing role in international law enforcement, particularly in asset recovery, through coordination with Interpol’s National Central Bureau and the Bharatpol portal.
