New Delhi: The national capital witnessed a significant spike in cases of foreign nationals overstaying their visas this year.
Delhi Police data shows that from Jan to Oct this year, 56 cases were registered under Foreigners Act, a stark contrast to just 12 cases during the same period in 2023. The number of foreign nationals apprehended also saw a substantial jump, rising from 10 in 2023 to 118 this year (Jan-to Oct).
According to police, they conduct regular drives across the city to crack down on foreign nationals overstaying their visas. “In most cases, we found that these individuals enter India legally, often on tourist, medical, or student visas, but fail to depart after their visas expire,” an officer said.
To evade detection, these foreign nationals frequently change their addresses and reside in unauthorised colonies, making it challenging for the authorities to track them down. Lookout notices against foreign nationals are also issued.
“When we apprehend them, they often provide false names or addresses and, sometimes, even claim not to understand our language,” police said. “They employ all sorts of tactics to avoid being caught, and it’s not uncommon for them to feign ignorance or pretend to be unaware of the laws and regulations governing their stay in India.” They are deported to their countries.
According to police, they conduct a door-to-door verification process and gather essential data from individuals suspected of overstaying. This information is meticulously recorded and subsequently forwarded to Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) for thorough verification, ensuring the accuracy and legitimacy of the data collected.
Cops also take stringent measures against landlords who recklessly rent out their properties to foreign nationals without conducting thorough background checks. Recently, Delhi Police launched a special drive to identify illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in the capital and take action as per the extant rules in a time-bound manner.
Police have observed a disturbing trend where landlords in the city are often unaware of the mandatory provisions outlined in Foreigners Act, 1946. This lack of awareness can lead to unintended legal consequences for the landlords. During the drive, they are also made aware of the legal consequences.
“A landlord is required to submit information about his tenants (including foreigner tenants) to the local police for the verification of their antecedents. In this regard, orders under 144 of CrPC (Now Sec. 163 BNSS) are issued from time to time. Non-compliance with this provision may attract prosecution under section 223 of BNS for disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant under section 163 of BNSS,” police said.
