(LUCKNOW) A Thai woman identified as Thongphun Chayapha, also known as Darin Chokthanpat, was detained at Lucknow’s Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport on August 21, 2025, for alleged visa fraud tied to three forged Thai passports and earlier immigration violations, according to police officials involved in the case. Authorities said she was already blacklisted for past offenses, yet re-entered India under a new identity in July. She now faces charges under India’s updated criminal code and the Foreigners Act.
Airport officers seized three forged Thai passports, two Thai identity cards, a boarding pass, and two mobile phones (including an iPhone X). Investigators say the documents contained different details but showed the same traveler. The seizure followed a week of alerts among state intelligence units and local police, who had flagged her movements and the use of an alias.
An FIR lists Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023 charges under Sections 336(3) (forgery), 336(4) (forgery for cheating), 340(2) (using forged documents), 318(4) (cheating), and 61(2) (criminal conspiracy). She is also booked under the Foreigners Act Sections 14(b) and 14(c) for visa overstay and related violations. Police handed her to Sarojininagar Police on August 21 for further questioning and court proceedings.
The case traces back months. Authorities say Thongphun was blacklisted for earlier violations and left India on March 17, 2025, on an exit permit. Despite that, she allegedly re-entered on July 31, 2025, through the Raxaul checkpoint using a new false identity. Her name resurfaced on police radars on August 13, when state intelligence issued a detailed alert. She and alleged facilitator Jaswinder Singh were first detained on August 20, but no FIR was registered at that time. The next day, she was stopped again at the airport and booked.
Police named three Indian nationals as suspected facilitators: Jaswinder Singh (described as the primary fixer), Navendu Mittal, and Shuvendu Nigam. Investigators say the trio helped arrange forged documents and supported Thongphun’s illegal stay after her re-entry. Officers are examining call records and device data to map the network and track any other travelers who may have used similar methods.
Coordinated enforcement and the path to arrest
Officials from DCP (Intelligence), Lucknow, the ADG (Intelligence) UP, DCP (South) Lucknow, and Sarojininagar police coordinated closely, reflecting how immigration cases are now handled in the state. The operation followed a steady process that started with shared alerts and ended with airport detention.
Key investigative steps:
1. Intelligence teams compiled details about the suspect’s aliases and travel pattern, then circulated a watch notice.
2. Airport police stopped the traveler at the boarding gate, cross-checked biometrics, and flagged mismatches in identity data.
3. Investigators collected the passports, IDs, boarding pass, and phones to secure a paper trail and digital evidence.
4. A formal FIR was registered under the updated BNS 2023 and the Foreigners Act, which police say gives clearer tools for prosecution in forgery and fraud cases.
5. The suspect was placed in local police custody for questioning, while investigators moved to locate and question the Indian facilitators.
The use of BNS 2023 provisions helps connect forged documents to cheating and conspiracy counts more cleanly than the old code, police say. The Foreigners Act charges focus on illegal stay and false entry—areas with tighter checks at airports and land borders since mid-2024.
For background on entry/exit checks and procedures, see the Bureau of Immigration’s official portal: https://boi.gov.in
What the case means for foreign travelers and facilitators
Officials say the case is a warning for travelers with past visa issues and for fixers who promise easy entry using fake papers. The combination of stricter criminal provisions, data sharing, and closer airport screening puts repeat offenders at higher risk of arrest.
For foreign nationals:
– If you were earlier blacklisted for visa violations, do not attempt re-entry with new names or forged documents. There is a high chance of being stopped at the airport, even if the name is changed.
– Expect extra checks at land borders and airports. Officers may compare biometrics and travel history and request in-person verification.
– If you need to leave after an overstay, follow lawful procedures through FRRO and keep all exit records. A past exit permit does not erase a blacklist.
For Indian facilitators:
– Police are applying criminal conspiracy along with forgery and cheating provisions under BNS 2023. This raises the risk of jail time if you arrange forged documents or support illegal stay.
– Phone and digital trails matter. Investigators often build cases through contact lists, chats, and payment records.
For immigration authorities:
– The case supports a focus on biometric checks, stronger document review, and swift FIRs when alerts match.
– Inter-agency coordination—from intelligence units to airport police—helps catch repeat offenders who switch identities mid-journey.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the Lucknow arrest shows how tighter screening and faster data sharing can expose forged identities even when travelers carry multiple passports. It also illustrates pressure on small regional airports and land checkpoints, where officers must link identity records from different sources in real time.
Wider trend and what comes next
The method used here—multiple identities, new passports, and a land border entry after a prior exit—has appeared elsewhere in South and Southeast Asia. Since 2024, India and neighboring countries have reported more such cases as biometric systems improve and alerts move faster between agencies.
Key implications:
– The shift to BNS 2023 is shaping how document fraud is charged, keeping forgery tied to cheating and conspiracy counts.
– The Foreigners Act remains the primary tool for visa overstays and false entry.
– States have stepped up use of both instruments, and airports have adopted stricter checks since mid-2024.
Officials expect more upgrades to biometric checks and shared platforms through late 2025. Law enforcement in India and Thailand are in contact on cases like this, calling for better ways to compare identity data across borders. Policy watchers say court results in high-profile cases—like that of Thongphun Chayapha—may guide how future cases are charged, especially when several identities and facilitators are involved.
Public messages this year from visa service centers warn travelers to avoid unlicensed agents. The message from police in Lucknow is similar: people who try quick fixes can face detention, long legal battles, and lasting bans.
Final advice from authorities:
– For travelers already in trouble, the safer path is to deal directly with official channels, keep records clean, and avoid any offer that suggests a new identity or fresh passport will make past problems disappear.
This Article in a Nutshell
Lucknow police arrested Thai national Thongphun Chayapha on August 21, 2025, after intercepting three forged passports and digital evidence. Authorities used biometric checks, inter-agency intelligence, and BNS 2023 and Foreigners Act charges. The case highlights tightened screening, risks for repeat offenders, and scrutiny of Indian facilitators involved in document fraud.
