Synopsis
The Enforcement Directorate arrested a Bangladeshi citizen in Kolkata for operating a hawala racket with fake Indian identity documents. Azad Mullick, linked to financial transfers to Bangladesh, faces serious charges under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. This operation is part of a broader crackdown on illegal documentation networks.Key Takeaways
- ED arrests Azad Mullick for hawala operations.
- Over Rs 2.62 crore transferred to Bangladesh.
- Multiple raids conducted across Kolkata and Nadia.
- Alok Nath arrested for supplying fake documents.
- Kolkata Police's charge sheet highlights the scale of the scam.
Kolkata, April 16 (NationPress) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has apprehended a Bangladeshi national who was living in Kolkata with forged Indian identity documents, including a passport, while also running a hawala racket from his home.
The individual has been named as Azad Mullick, proprietor of Mullick Trading Corporation. His arrest occurred late Tuesday night at his residence located near Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, situated on the northern outskirts of Kolkata.
Sources indicate that the investigative team from the Central agency discovered that the individual had transferred Rs 2.62 crore last year from India to Bangladesh via the hawala route.
He is scheduled to be presented at a special court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in Kolkata on Wednesday. He faces charges under Sections 3 and 4 of the PMLA.
Earlier that same night, ED officials also apprehended Alok Nath, a key figure in a network that facilitates the production of fake Indian documents, including passports for illegal Bangladeshi immigrants. His arrest took place near the international border with Bangladesh at Gede in Nadia district.
The ED officials executed raids and search operations across multiple sites in Kolkata, North 24 Parganas, and Nadia districts as part of their investigation into the money laundering linked to the fake passport case.
Last month, the Kolkata Police submitted a charge sheet regarding the forged passport scam in a lower court in Kolkata, revealing that out of 130 individuals listed, 120 were Bangladeshi residents, with the remainder being Indian nationals.
The principal allegations against the Bangladeshi nationals involve payments of substantial sums to obtain fake Indian passports.
Indian nationals are accused of acting as facilitators in the arrangement of fake identity documents, including Indian passports, for these illegal Bangladeshi immigrants.
Previously, Kolkata Police detained Abdul Hai, a retired Assistant Sub-Inspector from the city police. His role in the scheme was also detailed in the charge sheet.
This document elaborated on Hai's financial benefits accrued through 52 police verification clearances, where he served as the inquiry or verification officer on the ground.
