Indian agent who prepared fake papers for Indians to study in Canada jailed

Brijesh Mishra, a 37-year-old Indian national and an agent of the Overseas Education Consultant, has been sentenced to three years in prison in Canada after pleading guilty to multiple Canadian immigration offences, including misrepresentation and communicating false information. After his jail term is over in Canada, Mishra will likely be deported to India. He faces criminal charges in India, including a human smuggling offence under the Punjab Travel Act, which carries a maximum penalty of death.

Mishra charged students lakhs of rupees for the fraudulent documents, which at times led to their deportation.

Mishra’s arrest came after an investigation by the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) that linked him to numerous fraudulent acceptance letters from Canadian colleges and universities provided to prospective international students from India between 2016 and 2020.

Mishra, who provides education and migration services to students in Jalandhar, was arrested in June 2023 in Surrey, British Columbia, after being found residing in Canada on an expired tourist visa.

In October, the federal government reported investigating over 2,000 cases of international students receiving fake acceptance letters through travel agents and consultants, with Mishra identified as one of the main culprits in this fraud.

Mishra allegedly charged between Rs 14 to 16 lakh from each student who applied for a study visa in Canada.

Last year, around 700 Indian students from Punjab, who arrived in Canada to pursue higher education, faced deportation due to fake offer letters provided by their agent in Jalandhar.

The Canadian government conducted outreach programmes in various parts of Punjab to prevent immigration fraud.

This initiative came after the discovery that 700 Indian students had used fake college admission offer letters to study in Canada. These students were allowed to present their case with evidence, and their removal was temporarily halted.

The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) authorities have also been informed that many landlords in various Canadian provinces were charging exorbitant rent and sometimes denying amenities to international students.

According to IRCC data, Canadian authorities rejected 7,528 study permit applications from India between January 2018 and May 2023 due to altered and forged documents.

Indian students in Canada, who started protesting against their deportation for allegedly submitting fraudulent admission letters, had received stay orders on their deportation notices.

VICTIMS’ PLIGHT AND CBSA INVESTIGATION

Victims of the scam travelled to Canada for higher studies between 2017 and 2020, completing their courses and obtaining work permits.

The scam was unearthed during document verification by the CBSA after the victims applied for permanent residency.

Mishra had issued fake acceptance letters to dozens of Indian students aspiring to study in Canada.

These students entrusted Mishra with their personal documents and paid fees, only to discover upon arrival in Canada that their admissions were fake.

Mishra’s responses varied, sometimes offering help with enrollment at other institutions and, at other times, evading the victims entirely.

COURTROOM PROCEEDINGS AND SENTENCING OF MISHRA

“I’m sorry. I cannot change the past, but I can make sure I do not do it again in the future,” Mishra expressed remorse for his actions in a Vancouver courtroom, reported CBC News.

Federal Crown prosecutor Molly Greene and defence lawyer Gagan Nahal reached a joint sentencing submission, resulting in a three-year prison term. Mishra’s time in custody since his 2023 arrest counts towards his sentence, meaning he will serve an additional 19 months.

After serving his sentence in Canada, Mishra is expected to be deported to India, where he faces further criminal charges, including a human smuggling offence under the Punjab Travel Act, which carries a maximum penalty of death.

Mishra’s family in India has been harassed by the family members of his alleged victims, according to Vancouver City News.

Following his deportation, Mishra will face legal proceedings in India, where he has multiple charges and arrest warrants pending.

The CBSA continues to locate all possible victims of Mishra and other fraudsters, aiming to support genuine students in completing their studies in Canada.

“Our focus will continue to be on helping individuals assessed as genuine students as part of the task force so they can complete their studies in Canada,” the CBSA stated.