Brijesh Mishra : Indian Agent Jailed for Fake Papers: Study in Canada Scam

Brijesh Mishra, a 37-year-old Indian national and an agent of the Overseas Education Consultant, has been sentenced to three years in prison in Canada after pleading guilty to multiple Canadian immigration offences, including misrepresentation and communicating false information. Following his incarceration in Canada, Mishra is likely to face deportation back to India, where he is wanted on criminal charges, including a human smuggling offence under the Punjab Travel Act, with a maximum penalty of death.

Mishra, who operated in Jalandhar, charged students lakhs of rupees for fraudulent documents, resulting in some students facing deportation. His arrest came after an investigation by the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) discovered numerous fraudulent acceptance letters from Canadian colleges and universities provided to prospective international students from India between 2016 and 2020.

In June 2023, Mishra was arrested in Surrey, British Columbia, for residing in Canada with an expired tourist visa. He was identified as one of the main culprits in a federal investigation that reported over 2,000 cases of international students receiving fake acceptance letters through travel agents and consultants.

Mishra allegedly charged between Rs 14 to 16 lakh from each student seeking a study visa in Canada. This led to around 700 Indian students from Punjab facing deportation due to fake offer letters provided by their agent in Jalandhar.

The Canadian government conducted outreach programmes in Punjab to prevent immigration fraud after discovering the use of fake college admission offer letters by 700 Indian students to study in Canada. These students were allowed to present their case with evidence, resulting in a temporary halt to their removal.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) authorities were informed of landlords in various Canadian provinces charging exorbitant rent and denying amenities to international students. IRCC data shows that 7,528 study permit applications from India were rejected between January 2018 and May 2023 due to altered and forged documents.

Indian students in Canada who protested against their deportation for submitting fraudulent admission letters received stay orders on their deportation notices.

Victims’ Plight and CBSA Investigation

Victims of the scam travelled to Canada for higher studies between 2017 and 2020, completing their courses and obtaining work permits. The scam was uncovered during document verification by the CBSA after victims applied for permanent residency.

Mishra had provided fake acceptance letters to dozens of Indian students aspiring to study in Canada, leading to their disappointment upon arrival. Some victims, like Ravinderpreet Singh and Balbir Singh, shared the hardships they faced due to Mishra’s actions.

Courtroom Proceedings and Sentencing of Mishra

In a Vancouver courtroom, Mishra expressed remorse for his actions, stating, “I’m sorry. I cannot change the past, but I can ensure I do not repeat it in the future.” Federal Crown prosecutor Molly Greene and defence lawyer Gagan Nahal reached a joint sentencing submission, resulting in a three-year prison term.

After serving his sentence in Canada, Mishra is expected to be deported to India, where he faces further criminal charges, including a human smuggling offence under the Punjab Travel Act. Mishra’s family in India has faced harassment from the family members of his alleged victims.

CBSA continues efforts to locate all possible victims of Mishra and other fraudsters to support genuine students in completing their studies in Canada. “Our focus will continue to be on helping individuals assessed as genuine students so they can complete their studies in Canada,” stated CBSA.