Trafficking probe held up

Hyderabad, July 23: Even though the investigation into the human smuggling racket was completed a month ago, the city police continues to face hurdles in filing the chargesheet. According to sources, the reason for the delay is that the regional passport authority has not handed over to the police the original application forms of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) legislator Kasipet Lingaiah, the prime accused in the case, and a woman he allegedly attempted to pass off as his wife.
The passport authority has informed the city’s Central Crime Station (CCS) that they cannot hand over the originals without getting permission from the Ministry of External Affairs. The CCS officials have sent a letter to the ministry and are awaiting the go-ahead they need to get the applications. Sources said that the investigations proved beyond doubt the involvement of Lingaiah in the racket.
The city police have booked several cases against Mr Lingaiah, kingpin broker Mohammed Mazahruddin alias Rasheed, an unidentified woman, former TD corporator Muzaffer, Sangeetha Ben of Ahmedabad, bookie Raju Pitti and others under Sections 419, 420, 468, 471 of the IPC and Section 12 (b) of the Passports Act.
Sources said Mr Lingaiah faces a prison term of at least seven years if found guilty of the charges filed against him. "We have collected documentary evidence against Mr Lingaiah. His visit to the US Consulate along with a woman whom he tried to pass off as his wife clearly shows his complicity in the racket," the sources added.