By Rajesh Pandey
The Allahabad High Court has refused to grant bail to a Chinese national accused of staying in India using a forged Indian passport, a fake Aadhaar card and fraudulently extended visa documents.
The court stressed that releasing the applicant could pose a serious threat to national security, economic interests and India’s international relations.
Justice Arun Kumar Singh Deshwal, while dismissing the bail application of Xue Fei @ Koei, noted that the case diary contained substantial evidence suggesting the accused was illegally residing in India and had allegedly been involved in illegal extraction and smuggling of mobile chips and processors to China, indicating potential involvement in an organised economic offence.
The bench observed that the matter could not be evaluated in isolation from the delicate geopolitical equation between India and China, stating:
This Court cannot ignore the relationship of India with China, and there are chances that if the applicant is released on bail, he may leave the country illegally.”
The court also expressed concern that another co-accused, Tansong Dorji, had already escaped and remains untraceable, heightening the possibility that the applicant might abscond as well.
With no extradition treaty between India and China, the court noted that once the accused fled the country, it would be nearly impossible to ensure his return for trial.
According to the prosecution, two Chinese nationals entering India via Nepal — Yuyan Heyang and Loo Long — were arrested, and based on their statements, Xue Fei was apprehended.
Authorities recovered a forged Indian passport and a fake Aadhaar card under the name Laakpa Sherpa, which were allegedly used to rent a residential property and fraudulently renew his visa from 2020 to 2022 despite its expiration.
The order dated November 19 underscores the court’s strong stance in cases involving foreign nationals accused of fraudulent identities, cross-border smuggling and economic sabotage.