Hungary Investigates 20 Visa Applications with Forged Wrestling Federation India Letter

(BUDAPEST, HUNGARY) — The Wrestling Federation India confirmed on March 12, 2026, that a recommendation letter submitted with Hungary visa applications was forged, prompting concerns about a possible human trafficking attempt involving people posing as wrestlers.

Hungary’s embassy contacted the federation on March 12, 2026, seeking verification of a letter that supported the applications and carried the date March 4, 2026.

The letter claimed to recommend 11 wrestlers and 1 manager for an “international wrestling training and competition programme” in Budapest scheduled for March 15 to 22, 2026.

WFI President Sanjay Kumar Singh replied to the embassy the same day and rejected the document’s authenticity in a written response.

“This has reference to your e-mail dated March 12 seeking clarification regarding the authenticity of the document. the attached letter is fake and has not been issued by the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI),” Singh said.

Singh also urged the embassy “not to process any visa applications based on the forged document” and requested “appropriate legal action against the individuals involved.”

The case centers on a document that presented itself as an official endorsement by Wrestling Federation India for travel tied to a Budapest training and competition program.

WFI cited specific discrepancies that it said showed the letter could not have been issued by the federation, including the way it identified one of its officials.

The federation said the letter used Mr. V.N. Prasood’s name and title incorrectly by listing him as Secretary General when he is currently Vice President, and it said Prasood denied issuing it.

WFI also flagged outdated letterhead details, including an incorrect address, as another sign the document was not genuine.

The federation said official Indian entries for international events route only through WFI, and it pointed to a future Budapest competition as the next legitimate event on its calendar.

That event, the Ranking Series “Polyak Imre, Varga Nanos & Kozma Istvan Memorial” tournament, is scheduled for July 2026, the federation said.

Singh linked the alleged visa fraud to broader concerns about people using sport as a cover to travel abroad with false paperwork.

“The incident could potentially be linked to a human trafficking attempt, with individuals allegedly trying to travel abroad by posing as sportspersons using forged federation documents. Authorities are expected to examine the matter further,” Singh said.

He described how the inquiry began and how the federation responded after it sought documentation for review.

“We had first received a call from the embassy. We asked for documents via e-mail. Upon checking we found that it’s all fake. We responded to the embassy immediately. There should be an enquiry into it,” Singh said.

WFI’s account places the embassy’s verification request at the center of how the suspected forged letter came to light, with the federation moving quickly to dispute it.

The federation’s response also framed the issue as more than a routine case of questionable paperwork, pointing to the risk that forged sports endorsements can be used to facilitate human trafficking.

The suspected scheme described by Singh involved individuals presenting themselves as wrestlers and using a forged letter as a supporting document in a visa application.

While the federation called for an enquiry and legal action, it did not identify the people behind the applications in its statements.

Hungarian law provides penalties for forgery, and the potential consequences extend beyond a single failed visa application.

In Hungary, document forgery is punishable by up to 3 years in prison, and authorities can also impose deportation and entry bans that may affect Schengen visa eligibility elsewhere.

The case also touches on the wider context of Hungary’s scrutiny of visa applications when officials detect false information.

Common reasons for Hungary visa rejection include fake or misleading information, which leads to immediate denial.

Hungarian authorities have cracked down on similar scams, such as forged citizenship documents, and screening has been heightened since 2019.

For WFI, the immediate practical effect of the forged letter dispute is its request that the embassy halt processing of any applications that rely on the disputed document.

For legitimate athletes and event organizers, the federation’s statement that international entries route only through WFI underscores how official participation is meant to proceed, separate from any private attempt to obtain travel documents.

Singh’s call for “appropriate legal action against the individuals involved” placed responsibility on authorities to pursue the matter, while his remarks tied the suspected forged letter to the risk of human trafficking through impersonation of sportspersons.

The forged letter’s claim of a Budapest program running from March 15 to 22, 2026, contrasted with WFI’s statement that the next legitimate Budapest event on its schedule comes in July 2026, leaving the disputed applications at odds with the federation’s official pathway for international competition.