Claims that the man charged with the manslaughter of three-year-old Gurshan Singh Channa is living in Australia on a fake passport is being investigated by Australian immigration officials.

"Allegations have been made that the man charged is being investigated for possible immigration fraud," The Age quoted a spokesman of the Department of Immigration, as saying.

Gursewak Dhillon, 23, was charged with the manslaughter of the Indian toddler through criminal negligence on Tuesday.

Police have successfully opposed bail, claiming that the taxi driver was a flight risk.

Dhillon, who has a wife in Australia and a daughter in India, made a brief appearance in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday and was remanded in custody to appear for a committal hearing on June 29.

He answered softly, barely audibly, when addressed directly.

His wife, Sim Kaur, sat in court with a black shawl draped around her shoulders during the hearing.

Gurshan Singh's body was found dumped in long grass at Oaklands Junction, near Melbourne Airport last Thursday.

The toddler disappeared from his Lalor home, about 20 kilometres away, about six hours earlier.

According to the police, Dhillon, who shared the home with Gurshan's parents and others, placed the unconscious boy in the boot of his car, drove him around for at least three hours and dumped him at Oaklands Junction without checking to see if he was still alive.

Investigators urged a woman who gave Dhillon a lift on the day of the death to contact them.

The woman stopped to help Dhillon in Melbourne's northern suburbs after he ran out of petrol.

The woman is believed to have driven him to a service station. (ANI)