Synopsis
On April 15, the Enforcement Directorate arrested Alok Nath, the leader of a fake passport racket in West Bengal. Nath was taken into custody after a day-long search, and authorities uncovered evidence linked to the scheme. The investigation reveals the involvement of both Bangladeshi nationals and Indian facilitators in this illegal operation.Key Takeaways
- ED arrests the kingpin of a fake passport racket.
- Alok Nath apprehended at the Gede border.
- Extensive raids conducted in Kolkata and surrounding areas.
- Investigation highlights roles of both Bangladeshi and Indian nationals.
- Incriminating evidence seized during the operation.
Kolkata, April 15 (NationPress) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has apprehended the mastermind behind a network operating in West Bengal that was facilitating the issuance of fraudulent Indian passports for illegal Bangladeshi migrants.
The individual taken into custody has been named as Alok Nath. His arrest was executed by ED officials close to the international borders in Gede, located in the Nadia district of West Bengal.
Following his arrest, Nath was transported to the ED office situated in the central government office (CGO) complex in Salt Lake, Kolkata.
The ED carried out extensive raid and search operations at various sites in Kolkata, North 24 Parganas, and the Nadia district as part of their investigation into the money-laundering linked to the fake passport scandal.
According to sources, the ED officials interrogated Nath for approximately 13 hours before formally arresting him and taking him to their office in Salt Lake.
Moreover, officials retrieved multiple incriminating documents and digital files from Nath's office, which included his laptop and two mobile phones.
Last month, Kolkata Police submitted a charge sheet to a lower court in Kolkata, highlighting that out of the 130 individuals listed, 120 were Bangladeshi residents and the rest were Indian citizens.
The primary accusations against the Bangladeshi individuals indicate that they paid significant sums of money to obtain counterfeit Indian passports.
Indian nationals are accused of acting as facilitators in arranging these fake Indian identity documents, including passports, for the illegal Bangladeshi migrants.
Previously, the Kolkata Police apprehended Abdul Hai, a retired Assistant Sub-Inspector from the city police. The charge sheet also detailed Hai's involvement in the case.
The document outlined how Hai profited financially from 52 police verification clearances, where he served as the verification officer.
