BENGALURU, 31 JULY

The Bengaluru City Police have introduced a new regulation requiring Paying Guest (PG) and guesthouse owners to obtain a neighbour consent letter, formatted as FORM C, for all foreign nationals residing in their properties. This move aims to strengthen monitoring and documentation of foreign residents in the city.

City Commissioner B Dayananda announced the enforcement on Wednesday, citing Section 7 of the Foreigners Act. This section mandates owners and operators of PGs, guesthouses, residences, and similar accommodations to register all foreign occupants on the Indian Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) online portal (indianfrro.gov.in). The details must then be submitted to the nearest police station.

"This action is being taken to address concerns about potential criminal activity or drug trafficking involving foreign nationals," a senior police officer told Salar News.

"The new regulation places the responsibility on property owners to verify the backgrounds and details of their foreign tenants, ensuring they are properly documented and monitored."

In 2022, the city police issued an advisory urging house owner to verify the backgrounds of potential foreign tenants before renting out their properties. This advisory came in response to a rise in drug peddling cases involving foreign nationals. The advisory warned that house owners renting to individuals involved in the drug trade would face legal action under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, and could face imprisonment. -Salar News