Budgam Police book homestay owner for hiding stay of foreign national

Srinagar, Dec 11: Jammu and Kashmir Police in Budgam has registered a case against a homestay owner for failing to report the stay of a foreign national, in violation of mandatory legal requirements.

A police official said that during routine inspections of hotels, guest houses, and homestays carried out by the Police Party of Police Post Humhama, Police Station Budgam, a serious violation was detected at Homestay/Guest House Rose Cottage, Friends Enclave, Humhama. It was found that the management had accommodated a foreign national without mandatory reporting. The management had deliberately failed to submit Form C, which is compulsory for the registration of foreign nationals.

Upon verifying the establishment’s details on the Form-C portal under IVFRT, it was further revealed that the said homestay/guest house was not registered with Tourism Department, despite mandatory requirements for hosting foreign guests.

Accordingly, a case vide FIR No. 337/2025, under Sections 8 and 23(b) of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, has been registered at Police Station Budgam against the homestay management, while as investigation has been set into motion, the official said.

Police advised all hotel, guest house, individual house, and homestay owners to strictly adhere to legal requirements and ensure timely submission of Form C through the designated portal for reporting foreign guests.