Lucknow : In a sensational breakthrough, Lucknow Police and the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) have jointly busted an international sex racket operating out of a posh flat at the Omaxe Apartments in Hazratganj, the heart of Uttar Pradesh’s capital. Two women of Uzbek origin have been taken into custody, sparking a larger investigation into illegal immigration and human trafficking.
Plastic Surgery Used to Conceal Identity
Preliminary interrogation revealed a startling detail: the arrested foreign nationals had undergone plastic surgery performed by a local doctor, Dr. Vivek Gupta, to alter their facial features and mask their true nationality. The women were allegedly residing in India without valid passports or visas, in clear violation of the Foreigners Act and Passport Act.
Alleged Journalist Involved in Harboring Foreigners
Investigators also uncovered that a man identified as Trizin Raj alias Arjun Rana, who claims to be a journalist, played a key role in assisting the two women. He not only arranged for their accommodation and daily needs but had also reportedly married one of the women to possibly shield her from legal scrutiny.
Mastermind on the Run: Loyola from Uzbekistan
Police have identified the alleged mastermind of the sex racket as a woman named Loyola, also a native of Uzbekistan. According to official sources, a lookout notice had already been issued against her by the Uzbek government. She is believed to have illegally entered India and operated from Lucknow under disguise.
Legal Action Underway
Cases are being registered under relevant sections of the Foreigners Act, Passport Act, and Indian Penal Code against Dr. Vivek Gupta and Arjun Rana. Investigations are also underway to determine how many other foreign nationals might be living in India with altered identities through similar means. Dr. Gupta is reportedly being intensively questioned to ascertain the number of such illegal surgeries he may have performed.
Security Agencies on High Alert
The discovery has sent shockwaves through security and intelligence agencies, raising red flags over national security vulnerabilities. Given the international dimensions of the case, the Ministry of External Affairs and central intelligence agencies are expected to be involved soon.
Authorities fear this could be part of a larger international human trafficking ring that uses facial surgery and false documentation to smuggle individuals across borders. The case continues to unravel, with more arrests and disclosures expected in the coming days.
