General

A man with Sri Lankan roots, living in the UK, has been arrested by police at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) for allegedly helping his friend travel to the UK using his visa and boarding pass. The suspect, Kandiya Rajagopal, provided his travel documents to his friend Sharushan Kunasekaran, who then used them to fly to the UK. While waiting for a flight in the Passenger Exchange area, Rajagopal claimed he lost his documents and sought replacements. However, his unusual behavior raised questions during police questioning. It was discovered that he had already sent his friend to the UK with his documents, asking him to meet at the airport before his departure. After Kunasekaran traveled to the UK, Rajagopal reported his documents missing and attempted to get new ones, claiming they were lost. Authorities suspect that both men were trying to gain refugee status in the UK. The police are looking into how Rajagopal got through security unnoticed and how his friend used his documents to board the flight. Deputy Commissioner of Police (North East) G K Mithun Kumar stated, “A case has been opened against a Sri Lankan national for giving his visa and flight ticket to a friend he had called to the airport. The friend flew abroad with that visa and boarding pass. Later, the accused tried to buy another ticket at the airport, which alerted airport authorities. We have taken the suspect into custody, and further investigations are ongoing. The BIAL police have filed a case and are continuing their probe. Rajagopal is in custody, and the police are working to obtain more information about his accomplice who traveled to the UK.”