UK Businessman arrested for ‘Giving Boarding Pass’ to Illegal Migrant

A British businessman was arrested after allegedly giving his boarding pass to an illegal migrant who tried to enter the UK.

Kandiah Rajagopal, of Northolt, North London, is accused of giving his ticket to friend, Sharusan Kunasekaran, inside airport lavatories in India on January 18.

Police said Kunasekaran, who did not hold a valid UK visa, boarded a Virgin Atlantic flight from Bengaluru to London Heathrow using Rajagopal’s boarding pass.

Suspicion was raised when Rajagopal remained in the departure lounge at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) for around eight hours without a boarding pass.

According to police, Kunasekaran was arrested upon arrival in the UK and now faces deportation.

Authorities said Rajagopal had purchased a ticket for the 7:20 am Virgin Atlantic flight to London Heathrow.

Kunasekaran had separately booked an Indigo Airlines flight to Singapore at 10:20 am on the same day.

Investigators said both men passed through security and immigration using their own valid documentation before meeting in the lavatories, where the boarding pass was exchanged.

Police inspector Mallikarjun said: “He was just waiting in a lounge for a long time. He was not carrying any boarding pass.

“Without a boarding pass, no one is allowed to enter [the] immigration area. They got suspicious and took him to custody and enquired.

“The fault lies with the airline officials, who didn’t check the passport and boarding pass together.

“They allowed him to enter the flight without cross-checking the documents. They don’t check the boarding pass and passport of everyone.”

Police said Kandiah Rajagopal, who gained British citizenship after seeking asylum in the UK during Sri Lanka’s armed conflict, wanted to help his friend travel to London after he failed to secure a visa.

During questioning, Rajagopal admitted giving his boarding pass to another person who travelled to the UK.

Rajagopal told officers he has lived in London for 30 years and runs a hotel there.

He had travelled to India on a tourist visa and visited several tourist and pilgrimage sites across South India, police said.

A case has been registered under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025.

Rajagopal has been remanded in judicial custody and transferred to Bengaluru Central Prison.

Mallikarjun added: “He has applied for a bail and also sought help from the British embassy.

“If convicted, he will face an imprisonment of up to seven years.”