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Mumbai Police Shut Unauthorized Locker Service for Visa Applicants near US Consulate

The shutdown follows police findings that unlicensed auto drivers were filling a critical storage gap left by the consulate’s strict no-bag policy

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Overview

  • A LinkedIn post by Rahul Rupani on June 4 highlighted an auto driver charging ₹1,000 per bag to store belongings before visa interviews at the BKC consulate
  • Police inquiries uncovered about a dozen drivers offering similar unofficial locker services to thousands of visa seekers in the area
  • Authorities concluded the drivers held only passenger transport licences and had no legal permission to operate storage facilities
  • Officials cited potential security vulnerabilities arising from unregulated baggage storage in the high-security consulate zone
  • No formal cases were filed but drivers were ordered on June 11 to cease the unlicensed side business as calls grow for an official storage solution