The Rajasthan High Court on 10 July rejected the bail applications of three Rohingya nationals from Myanmar accused of residing in India under forged identities and allegedly trafficking Bangladeshi girls to multiple states. A Division Bench of Justice Indrajit Singh and Justice Bhuwan Goyal dismissed the pleas of Mohammad Usman, Shafi Alam alias Shofi Alam, and Rabi-ul-Islam, keeping all three in judicial custody as the trial proceeds.

The Allegations Against the Accused

According to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the three men entered India through the Bangladesh border during 2011–12 while concealing their Rohingya identities. Over the following years, they allegedly made multiple illegal trips to Bangladesh and, prior to their arrest in 2023, brought approximately 30 Bangladeshi girls into India without authorisation.

The NIA alleged that the trafficked girls were sold in Hyderabad, Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, and Rajasthan. The agency further claimed the accused procured Aadhaar cards, mobile SIM cards, and bank accounts using forged documents — enabling them to operate across state lines while evading detection.

Scope of the Alleged Network

Investigators alleged the trafficking operation was part of a larger conspiracy: the accused reportedly arranged marriages for the trafficked girls in different cities, ostensibly to assimilate them into Indian society. The NIA claimed the network intended these women to be available for exploitation in anti-national activities if required — an allegation the defence has contested.

At the time of arrest, Mohammad Usman was reportedly based in Jammu and Kashmir, Shafi Alam in Telangana, and Rabi-ul-Islam in Nuh, Haryana. The trio was arrested from Rajasthan and Haryana on the basis of intelligence inputs. Several human trafficking cases have reportedly been registered against them across different states.

What the Court Heard

Appearing for the NIA, Advocate Snehdeep Khyalia argued that the accused posed a high flight risk and that statements of several key witnesses, victims, and complainants were yet to be recorded. The prosecution urged the court to deny bail given the gravity of the charges and the transnational character of the alleged offence.

The defence countered that the accused had been falsely implicated, had already spent more than two years in custody, and that the trial was likely to be prolonged. Defence lawyers also submitted that statements of several important witnesses had already been recorded, weakening the NIA's argument against bail.

Background and What Comes Next

The bail applications had first been rejected by a Special NIA Court in Jaipur in 2024, prompting the accused to appeal to the High Court. With the High Court now also dismissing the pleas, the three men will remain in judicial custody while the NIA trial continues.

This case is among a growing number of NIA investigations involving Rohingya nationals and cross-border trafficking networks — a pattern that has drawn increasing judicial and policy scrutiny in recent years. The next significant development will be the recording of outstanding witness testimonies, which the NIA has flagged as critical to its case.