Kolkata, Dec 16 (NationPress) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) Kolkata Zonal Office has presented its initial supplementary charge sheet in the fake passport case involving five individuals, including Indubhushan Haldar.

The charge sheet was filed before the Special PMLA Court at Bichar Bhavan, Kolkata, on December 11. The court has issued notices to the implicated parties, as reported by the agency.

The investigation commenced following an FIR lodged by the West Bengal Police against Ajad Mallik. The ED's inquiry unveiled that Azad Hussain, a Pakistani national, was residing in India under the alias of Ajad Mallik, son of Mona Mallik.

In collaboration with Haldar, Hussain allegedly orchestrated the illegal acquisition of Indian identity documents for undocumented migrants from Bangladesh in exchange for money. Both Mallik and Haldar, also referred to as Dulal, have been arrested and remain in judicial custody.

Raids at Mallik’s locations resulted in the recovery of incriminating documents. Investigators discovered that Mallik had procured multiple Indian identity documents, including Aadhaar, PAN, and a passport, utilizing forged information with the assistance of accomplices. The ED also uncovered a hawala network managed by Mallik to facilitate illicit cross-border remittances between India and Bangladesh, using cash and UPI payments, and later transferring funds through platforms like bKash.

Further revelations indicated that Hussain renewed his fraudulently acquired Indian passport under the false identity through Haldar. Hussain directed Bangladeshi clients seeking Indian passports to Haldar, charging approximately Rs 50,000 for comprehensive identity documentation. Together, they purportedly processed around 300-400 passport applications.

In a related development, the ED declared that the PMLA Court has mandated the restitution of attached properties valued at Rs 175 crore in the bank fraud case involving Shree Ganesh Jewellery House (I) Limited (SGJHIL).

The City Sessions Court, Calcutta, has granted restitution of assets seized under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, in connection with SGJHIL and its promoters, Nilesh Parekh, Umesh Parekh, Kamlesh Parekh, and others. The promoters are accused of defrauding a consortium of 25 banks of Rs 2,672 crore through fraudulent transactions and diversion of loan funds.

The ED's investigation revealed that SGJHIL promoters established multiple companies in India and wholly-owned subsidiaries abroad, including in Dubai, Singapore, and Hong Kong, to execute a round-tripping scheme involving gold, bullion, and jewellery.

Jewellery manufactured in Manikanchan, Kolkata, was falsely represented as being exported to foreign entities under their control, routed through associated firms, and sold in international markets.

However, the proceeds from these sales were never sent back to India. Instead, the company utilized export bill discounting facilities from Indian banks, leaving the banks unable to recover their dues. This modus operandi enabled the promoters to misuse credit facilities, retain export proceeds abroad, and obscure transactions.

Under the provisions of the PMLA, the ED attached properties worth Rs 193.11 crore across West Bengal, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Telangana through two provisional orders.

The restitution initiative aims to return the proceeds of fraud to rightful claimants, recover public funds, and reaffirm the ED's commitment to dismantling intricate financial fraud networks and restoring the integrity of the banking system.