New Delhi, The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday mentioned it has arrested a Bangladeshi nationwide in Kolkata below the anti-money laundering regulation for his position in getting ready “illegal” Indian passports and Aadhaar playing cards for residents of his nation.
Kolkata: ED arrests Bangladeshi who ‘illegally’ made Indian passport, Aadhaar for compatriots
Ajad Mallik alias Ahammed Hossain Azad was taken into custody on Tuesday following searches at seven premises in West Bengal, the Enforcement Directorate mentioned in an announcement.
A particular Prevention of Cash Laundering Act courtroom in Kolkata despatched Mallik to 13-day ED custody the identical day, the federal probe company mentioned within the assertion.
Various incriminating paperwork, digital units and money amounting to ₹13.45 lakh had been seized by the ED throughout the searches towards Mallik, the assertion mentioned.
The cash laundering case stems from a neighborhood police FIR towards Mallik, who was booked below the Foreigners Act of 1946 for residing in India “without valid documents” and for his “involvement” in making Indian passport and different paperwork by means of “fraudulent” means for unlawful immigrants in lieu of cash.
The company mentioned numerous financial institution accounts had been being maintained within the title of Mallik and his proprietorship agency Mallik Buying and selling Company.
He was concerned within the enterprise of arranging “fraudulently” obtained identification paperwork like Voter ID card, passport, Aadhaar card, and so on., for Bangladeshi nationals, the assertion mentioned.
The accused generated “proceeds of crime” and “substantial” money was deposited within the accounts between 2018 and 2024, it mentioned.
The ED mentioned its probe discovered that Mallik’s household, comprising his spouse Maymuna Akhter and two sons, Osama Bin Azad and Omar Faruk, had been Bangladeshi residents and lived within the neighbouring nation.
India shares a 4,096 km-long worldwide border with Bangladesh.
Mallik “frequently” visited Bangladesh to fulfill his household, the ED assertion mentioned.
The ED additionally alleged that Mallik was concerned in hawala transactions and “siphoned off” funds obtained by him in lieu of arranging Indian authorities issued ID proofs for Bangladeshi nationals.
He was additionally offering “unauthorised” foreign money alternate companies to numerous people, the company mentioned.