Nongpoh/Mumbai | April 20: In a breakthrough investigation led by IPS Probationer Ashu Pant, Meghalaya Police has uncovered a major criminal network facilitating the illegal entry, identity forgery, and banking fraud by Bangladeshi nationals operating across India.
The operation began on February 14, 2025, when Meghalaya Police received credible inputs about a group of suspected Bangladeshi nationals traveling from Guwahati to Shillong. Acting swiftly, a checkpoint was set up in Nongpoh where five suspicious passengers — four adults and a child — were intercepted and detained.
Despite initially presenting Aadhaar and PAN cards, rigorous interrogation revealed the group’s true identities as Bangladeshi nationals who had illegally entered India two months prior with the help of an elaborate smuggling network. They had traveled as far as Mumbai seeking work and were now en route back to Bangladesh.
The Modus Operandi: Crossing Borders and Forging Identities
The accused confessed to obtaining Indian identity documents — including Aadhaar and PAN cards — through Shaikh Mohd Mujib, based in Mumbai’s Sewri area. Mujib is alleged to be a key facilitator, arranging forged documents using fake address proofs and enlisting middlemen to move illegal immigrants through border towns to metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and beyond.
Further investigation unearthed a criminal racket in Mumbai involving Nusrat A. Kazi and Jabir Yunus Shaikh, who exploited the fake identities to open bank accounts in the immigrants’ names. These accounts were then allegedly used for loan frauds and cybercrimes, including being sold to cybercriminals for financial scams.
The Mumbai Operation: Inter-State Crackdown
Following this discovery, a special investigation team from Meghalaya, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Shri Ashu Pant under the guidance of SSP Ri-Bhoi Shri Vivekanand Singh Rathore, proceeded to Mumbai. The team, with critical support from Commissioner of Police, Navi Mumbai, Shri Milind Bharambe, and operational backing by Mumbai Police, executed a week-long series of raids across Navi Mumbai and South Bombay.
In a multi-location crackdown, Nusrat A. Kazi and Jabir Yunus Shaikh were apprehended from Koparkhairaneand Ulwe, respectively, while Shaikh Mohd Mujib was arrested from Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Marg, South Mumbai. Raids led to the seizure of forged documents, incriminating digital evidence, and tools used for fabricating IDs.
All accused have been brought to Meghalaya on transit remand for further investigation.
A Larger Security Wake-Up Call
This case is not an isolated incident. It reflects a well-oiled network of illegal migration, document forgery, and financial crime with serious implications for national security. With India’s porous and difficult-to-monitor borders with Bangladesh — especially in states like Meghalaya — and increasing internal political instability in Bangladesh, the threat posed by such infiltrations has grown significantly.
Authorities fear that thousands of such illegal immigrants may have acquired Indian documents and are being misused for various financial crimes. It’s a call for heightened vigilance from intelligence agencies and law enforcement across states.
The case also highlights the urgent need for diplomatic engagement with Bangladesh, border infrastructure enhancement, and proactive policy measures to prevent such systemic breaches.
Commendations and Coordination
This successful operation reflects the excellent coordination between Meghalaya and Maharashtra Police, executed under the able leadership of CP Navi Mumbai Shri Milind Bharambe and SSP Ri-Bhoi Shri Vivekanand Singh Rathore. The joint effort of all officers involved — both on ground and at the supervisory level — is a shining example of inter-state collaboration in protecting national security interests.
