On 24 December 2024, India’s Enforcement Directorate (ED) released a media statement on the initial findings of its investigation into the Dingucha Case in 2022, in which an Indian family of four – Jagdish Patel (39), Vaishaliben Patel (37), and their children, Vihangi (11), and Dharmik (3) – froze to death trying to cross the border from Canada to the US. People smugglers dropped the family off on the Canadian side on a night when the temperature dropped to -35C (-31F) and told them to walk through the snow to the US.

According to the ED statement, the investigation has revealed a people smuggling method which involves agents arranging for the admission of Indians in Canadian ‘Colleges/Universities’, and associated study permits. When the individuals reach Canada they immediately seek to cross the border illegally into the US.

The statement refers to two “entities based in Mumbai and Nagpur [which] have entered into agreement for admission of students in universities based in foreign countries on commission basis.” It is further alleges that:

  • around 112 Canadian colleges have entered into agreements with the first entity and more than 150 with the second entity
  • around 25,000 students are being referred annually by the first entity and more than 10,000 students by the second entity to various colleges based outside India
  • there are about 1700 agents/partners of the first entity based in Gujarat and around 3500
    agents/partners of the second entity all over India, of which around 800 are active.

While the ED has not named any businesses at this point, the description above suggests that the two ‘entities’ may be education agent aggregators or master agents.

The investigation is ongoing.

(Read the full ED statement here.)

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Sources: Enforcement Directorate