Legal Verdict Unveiled: Beckwith Found Guilty Under IPC Sections and Foreigners' Act
Uttar Pradesh, 10 December, 23: In a significant legal development, a local court in Maharajganj district, Uttar Pradesh, pronounced a two-year imprisonment sentence for 40-year-old American national Erik Daniel Beckwith on Friday. Beckwith faced charges of attempting to enter India with a tampered visa, leading to his arrest in March 2023.
The government counsel, Ramesh Chandra, disclosed that Beckwith was found guilty under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 419 (cheating by impersonation) and 420 (cheating and dishonesty), along with violations of the Foreigners' Act. Despite Beckwith's application for bail being rejected post-verdict, he has been in custody at Maharajganj district jail.
Chandra detailed the circumstances leading to Beckwith's arrest, stating that immigration officials apprehended him on March 29, 2023, at the Indo-Nepal border in Sonauli. Upon examination, authorities discovered that Beckwith had tampered with his visa after its expiration, prompting further investigation and subsequent detention.
The inquiry revealed a complex history of Beckwith's visits to India. He initially entered the country on a tourist visa in June 2018, returning home after a brief stay. Subsequently, he re-entered India in 2021 on another tourist visa. When this visa expired, Beckwith altered the document to extend his stay. During this period, he resided with sadhus in Prayagraj and other locations.
Chandra provided additional context, stating, "Recently, he learned about a saint residing in Nepal and claimed he was on his way to meet him when he was caught." Consequently, a case was registered against Beckwith at Sonauli police station, involving various sections of the IPC and the Foreigners' Act. The chargesheet was filed in May, and the court heard testimonies from six prosecution witnesses during the legal proceedings.
This case highlights the vigilance of immigration officials and law enforcement in detecting visa-related offenses, underscoring the importance of adherence to legal procedures for foreigners visiting India. Beckwith's sentence serves as a reminder of the consequences associated with visa tampering, signaling the commitment to maintaining the integrity of India's immigration processes.
