Delhi Police arrest Pakistani national living illegally in Old Delhi
Synopsis
A Pakistani national caught working at an Old Delhi restaurant — having entered India through Nepal — is now facing deportation after the Delhi Police Crime Branch arrested him on Independence Day. Separately, two Bangladeshi nationals were nabbed under Operation VISTA 1.0 for overstaying their visas, underscoring a broader enforcement push against illegal foreign residents in the capital.
Key Takeaways
Delhi Police Crime Branch arrested a Pakistani national from Old Delhi on 15 August for illegal residence.
The accused had entered India via the Nepal border and was employed at a restaurant in Delhi.
His mother was originally an Indian citizen who later acquired Pakistani citizenship after marriage.
No terror angle was found; the man has been handed to the FRRO and deportation to Pakistan has been initiated.
Under Operation VISTA 1.0 , two Bangladeshi nationals — MD Anharul Islam Sourob Khan (23) and Tarikul Islam Sujan (27) — were detained for overstaying their 15-day visa limit.
Both Bangladeshis had entered India on 23 June on double-entry visas valid until 3 September .
The Delhi Police Crime Branch has arrested a Pakistani national who had been residing illegally in the national capital, officials confirmed on Wednesday, 19 August. The man was taken into custody from the Old Delhi area on 15 August and has since been questioned extensively by central agencies.
How He Entered India
According to investigators, the accused had entered India through the Nepal border and was working at a restaurant in Delhi at the time of his arrest. His background has an unusual dimension: his mother was originally an Indian citizen and a resident of Delhi before marrying a man of Pakistani origin, after which she acquired Pakistani citizenship.
Interrogation and Terror Angle
Central agencies, including the Crime Branch, subjected the arrested individual to detailed questioning. Police confirmed that no terror angle has been established in the case. The man has since been handed over to the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), and the process of deporting him to Pakistan has been formally initiated.
Operation VISTA 1.0: Two Bangladeshis Also Held
The arrest comes alongside a separate but related enforcement action. The Delhi Police Foreigner Cell of the Special Staff (Central District) last week detained two Bangladeshi nationals under Operation VISTA 1.0, a targeted drive to verify the visa status of foreign nationals in the capital and initiate legal action against immigration violators.
During checks at a hotel on Arakashan Road in the Nabi Karim area of Central Delhi, officers found the two individuals staying on the premises. Examination of their travel documents revealed that both had overstayed beyond the 15-day per-visit limit permitted under their double-entry visas, despite having entered India on 23 June on visas valid until 3 September.
Who Was Detained Under Operation VISTA 1.0
The two Bangladeshi nationals were identified as MD Anharul Islam Sourob Khan, 23, a resident of Habiganj, Bangladesh, and Tarikul Islam Sujan, 27, a resident of Cumilla, Bangladesh. Both are accused of violating visa conditions by remaining in India beyond the authorised period.
Broader Pattern of Enforcement
This is not an isolated crackdown. Delhi Police has intensified verification drives across hotels and guest houses in Central Delhi as part of Operation VISTA 1.0, signalling a sustained push to identify and act against foreign nationals in violation of immigration regulations. With deportation proceedings now underway in the Pakistani national's case, authorities are expected to continue similar operations in the coming weeks.
Point of View
And this case is unlikely to be isolated. Operation VISTA 1.0 signals a more systematic approach to hotel-level verification in Delhi, but the real test is whether such drives translate into structural fixes — better inter-agency data sharing, real-time FRRO alerts, and mandatory document checks at accommodation — rather than periodic sweeps that make headlines without closing the underlying loopholes.
NationPress
20 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested by the Delhi Police Crime Branch for illegal residence?
A Pakistani national was arrested from Old Delhi on 15 August by the Delhi Police Crime Branch. He had entered India through the Nepal border and was working at a restaurant in Delhi at the time of his arrest.
Was any terror angle found in the Pakistani national's case?
No. Delhi Police confirmed that no terror angle has been established after extensive questioning by central agencies including the Crime Branch. The man has been handed over to the FRRO for deportation to Pakistan.
What is Operation VISTA 1.0?
Operation VISTA 1.0 is a Delhi Police initiative to verify the visa status of foreign nationals residing in the capital and take legal action against those violating immigration rules. It involves checks at hotels and guest houses, particularly in Central Delhi.
Who were the Bangladeshi nationals detained under Operation VISTA 1.0?
They were identified as MD Anharul Islam Sourob Khan, 23, from Habiganj, Bangladesh, and Tarikul Islam Sujan, 27, from Cumilla, Bangladesh. Both had entered India on 23 June on double-entry visas but overstayed the permitted 15-day limit per visit.
How did the Pakistani national enter India?
According to investigators, the accused entered India via the Nepal border, bypassing standard immigration checkpoints. He subsequently settled in Delhi and found employment at a local restaurant before being detected by the Crime Branch.
