Jailed Ukrainian model suspected of information theft, illegal stay
What's the story
Ukrainian model Daria Molcha, who was arrested from a Gorakhpur city hotel on April 3 on charges of illegally staying in India without a visa, has revealed the details of her 'Indian friends' who allegedly facilitated her entry into the country using fake documents. Additionally, evidence found on Molcha's phone also points towards her being used to procure confidential internal security-related information. Here's more.
Molcha and India
Molcha has been a regular visitor to India
Molcha first arrived in India in 2016, and stayed for a while. She worked as a model with Karma modelling agency, and met Poddar and Kashif. However, owing to suspicions of shady activities, her visa was blacklisted and she left India. In December 2017, she returned with a tourist visa but was rejected. In March this year, she entered India with fake documents.
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Authorities looking to bust the 'whole racket'
"The issue is serious. Those who helped her cross the border and also gave her shelter are under scanner and action will be taken against them. For now a probe is on. Soon the whole racket will be busted," said SSP Salabh Mathur.
Details of arrest
Details of Daria Molcha's arrest in Gorakhpur
Molcha was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF). The model, who is currently in the Gorakhpur district jail, was found with fake documents, including a forged Indian driving license. Molcha revealed that she had entered India through Nepal using fake documents provided to her by Gorakhpur-based Anuj Poddar and Delhi-based Imsham Kashif, both businessmen. Police are now prepping to interrogate them.
Honey trap
Was Daria Molcha sneaking out confidential internal security-related information?
STF officials also said that they had found objectionable photos of Molcha with a senior Delhi cop, an airport official, and some Kolkata cadet officers on her smartphone. Suspecting that Molcha was being used as a 'honey trap' to procure confidential information relating to internal security, the STF also alerted the Intelligence Bureau. Possibilities of Molcha having links with China is also being probed.