WASHINGTON (Diya TV)  — The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a civil case seeking to strip citizenship from an India-born businessman accused of fraud in his naturalization process. The case involves Neeraj Sharma, a 50-year-old former staffing company executive and naturalized U.S. citizen.

Federal officials allege Sharma obtained U.S. citizenship through misrepresentation tied to an H-1B visa fraud scheme. The government says he concealed key facts during his immigration process. The case places him among 17 naturalized citizens now facing denaturalization actions in a broader federal crackdown on immigration fraud.

The Justice Department announced the action on Monday, saying it filed denaturalization complaints against individuals accused of crimes ranging from visa fraud to financial offenses and serious violent crimes. Officials said the effort aims to protect the integrity of U.S. citizenship and ensure that applicants follow immigration laws honestly.

Authorities allege Sharma played a central role in submitting fraudulent H-1B visa petitions while serving as chief executive officer of Magnavision LLC, a New Jersey-based staffing company. Prosecutors say the petitions falsely claimed foreign workers would be placed at a major global financial institution. The government also alleges Sharma submitted or facilitated 11 fraudulent H-1B visa applications between 2015 and 2017. Officials say those filings included false claims and forged documents.

According to court filings cited by the Justice Department, Sharma misrepresented the purpose and legitimacy of multiple visa applications. Prosecutors say he falsely claimed employment relationships with a major financial institution and used fabricated  Authorities further allege that Sharma failed to disclose his involvement in these activities during his naturalization interview. Officials say he gave false testimony under oath, which they argue would have affected his eligibility for U.S. citizenship.

Sharma became a U.S. citizen in December 2017. Prosecutors say his alleged misconduct occurred before his naturalization but remained undisclosed during the citizenship process. The Justice Department argues that this omission amounts to willful misrepresentation under U.S. immigration law.

Court records show Sharma later pleaded guilty in 2019 to visa fraud and misuse of visas. The conviction came nearly two years after he obtained U.S. citizenship. A federal court sentenced him in 2021 to 10 months of home detention and three years of probation. Prosecutors said the sentence reflected his role in the fraudulent visa scheme and related misconduct. Officials now argue that Sharma lacked the “good moral character” required for naturalization because of his actions before and during the citizenship process. They say the fraud and false statements undermine the legal basis for his citizenship.

Sharma’s case forms part of a wider denaturalization initiative targeting 17 naturalized citizens. The group includes individuals accused or convicted of offenses such as drug trafficking, wire fraud, child sexual abuse, and immigration fraud.

Senior U.S. officials, including Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Department of Homeland Security officials, have defended the effort. They say the government must ensure that citizenship remains a privilege earned through lawful conduct. The Justice Department has increased scrutiny of naturalization cases that involve alleged fraud or concealment. Officials say they will continue reviewing cases where applicants may have lied or withheld critical information during the immigration process.

Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, the federal government can revoke citizenship if it proves that a person obtained naturalization illegally or through material misrepresentation. The process takes place in civil court, not criminal court. Sharma will have the opportunity to challenge the allegations before a judge. The government must meet a high legal standard to prove that fraud or concealment directly affected his eligibility for citizenship.

If a federal court rules in favor of the Justice Department, Sharma would lose his U.S. citizenship. His immigration status would then depend on separate proceedings under federal immigration law.