(CHANDIGARH) A Kashmir student who says he was sold a fake study visa for Azerbaijan recovered Rs 65,000 from Chandigarh-based Prism Educational Services Pvt Ltd after police stepped in on December 23, 2025, a day after the case drew attention on KNS news and through a social activist’s public appeal.
Murtaza Rasheed, from Baramulla in Jammu and Kashmir, had paid the agency Rs 65,000 for what he believed would be genuine paperwork to start studies abroad, including an Azerbaijan e-visa, an enrollment slip and flight tickets. Instead, he received an e-visa carrying number AE105617955 that he later confirmed was invalid through the Azerbaijan embassy, along with what he alleges were forged education documents and travel bookings, according to details shared by activist Sheikh Salman Amin.
Complaint and early handling
Rasheed first went to Sector 19 police station in Chandigarh, Amin said, but officers there did not register an FIR and instead directed him to an ICMR portal. Unsure what that route would achieve for a suspected visa fraud, he escalated:
- to the Chandigarh Senior Superintendent of Police
- to the Cyber Cell
- and to authorities back home, including the SSP Sopore and Cyber Police Station Kashmir
He submitted payment receipts, the alleged forged documents, and an email from the Azerbaijan embassy that, he said, confirmed the visa document did not match a valid record. The initial response at the local station left him feeling stranded and fearful of losing an academic year.
Media spotlight and recovery
Only after KNS coverage and Amin’s public appeal did the response become swift, Amin said. He coordinated with Chandigarh Police and the money was recovered within one day — a development he described as rare in these cases, where victims often spend weeks moving between police desks and online complaint portals.
“The moment we brought this fraud to their notice, they acted with incredible speed and efficiency. Their no-nonsense approach towards the fraudsters ensured that the student’s hard-earned money was refunded immediately,” Amin said of Chandigarh Police in a statement issued on December 23.
Rasheed, in Amin’s account, thanked Amin and the police for their “decisive action,” saying the intervention allowed him to regroup and make plans without the immediate pressure of a lost fee.
What was alleged
- Payment: Rs 65,000 to Prism Educational Services Pvt Ltd for a study package.
- Promised items: Azerbaijan e-visa, enrollment slip, and flight tickets.
- Received items: an e-visa with number AE105617955 (later found invalid), and allegedly forged education and travel documents.
- Evidence provided to authorities: bank/payment receipts, screenshots, the alleged forged documents, and an embassy email confirming the visa was not on a valid record.
Broader warning: how these scams work
The case illustrates a common pattern in cross-border education fraud:
- Paperwork that looks formal and convincing.
- Urgent pressure to pay quickly.
- Silence or intimidation when a student asks for proof.
Analysis by VisaVerge.com notes that the most damaging frauds blend legitimate services — like help filling forms or booking flights — with a single fake core document, making the whole package feel legitimate and complicating police responses.
Practical safeguards and advice
Amin urged students to be cautious and follow these steps:
- Insist on written contracts before paying any fee.
- Confirm the agency’s existence and address independently.
- Ask for clear receipts and written terms for every payment.
- Do not send money without verification or a non-refundable flight warning.
- Report any threats or intimidation immediately.
He stressed that keeping copies of every document proved crucial in this case. Police and cyber units can act faster when a complaint includes:
- a clear money trail (bank/payment receipts),
- screenshots of chats,
- and verifiable confirmation from a foreign mission.
Verification resources
One practical safeguard is to cross-check any claimed visa grant through official government systems. For Azerbaijan, applicants and students can verify the proper process through the government’s ASAN Visa platform at evisa.gov.az, which explains who can apply, typical processing, and what an official confirmation looks like.
Enforcement gap and continuing risks
No official police statement was available as of December 23, 2025, and it remained unclear whether an investigation, charges, or licensing action against Prism Educational Services Pvt Ltd would follow the repayment.
- Recovery of money can stop immediate harm but does not prevent the same documents and sales pitch being used on another student.
- The sector is lightly regulated and varies by city and state, leaving first-time applicants vulnerable to operators who promise fast visas for unfamiliar destinations.
Amin said the quick intervention “saved a student’s career and mental well-being” and set a “benchmark for responsive policing.” For Rasheed, the refund closed one chapter, but the episode raises broader questions about how many students are lured by similar offers and how quickly enforcement will act when a complaint lacks media attention.
Murtaza Rasheed recovered Rs 65,000 from a Chandigarh consultancy after receiving a fake Azerbaijan visa. Despite initial police inaction, media coverage and activist Sheikh Salman Amin’s intervention forced a rapid refund within 24 hours. The case highlights the necessity of documented evidence and media pressure in resolving cross-border education fraud, while raising questions about the lack of permanent enforcement against fraudulent agencies.
