Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], March 15 (HBTV): Uttar Pradesh police recently raided an apartment building in the Malhour locality of Lucknow and booked its owner, his business partner, and other associates under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) and the Foreigners Act of 1946 for allegedly renting apartments to foreign nationals without a proper rent agreement.

Acting on confidential information following complaints about suspicious activities in the apartments, the Chinhat police conducted a raid with female police personnel and body-worn cameras. During the raid, they found 10 foreign nationals, all women, residing in the apartment flats.

According to the complaint, the foreign nationals were allowed to stay in the apartment on rent without informing the local police and administration. Upon inspection, the police discovered the passports and visas of several women living in six different apartments without a proper rent agreement.

When asked to show the rent agreement, a Thai woman produced a copy before the police. However, the remaining foreign nationals residing in the apartments could not provide any such document.

Police directed the apartment owner to submit complete information regarding the stay of the foreign nationals. However, the landlord failed to provide rent agreements, and the mandatory submission of Form C within 24 hours of their arrival was also not completed, which violates regulations under the Foreigners Act of 1946.

As per the complaint, the owner had accommodated foreign women without written notice. Despite being directed to furnish complete details about the foreign nationals residing in the apartments, the landlord failed to provide the required documents.

The police have registered a case under Sections 61 and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), Sections 7(1) and 14A of the Foreigners Act of 1946, and Section 5 of the Foreigners Registration Act of 1939. (ANI)