Mumbai, July 27: Mumbai Police arrested a 36-year-old Bangladeshi national at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport for allegedly travelling on a fraudulently obtained Indian passport.

The accused has been identified as Babu Biswas, alias Tapas Biswas. Immigration officials grew suspicious of his Indian passport after noticing that his accent closely resembled the dialect commonly spoken in Bangladesh.

According to the police, Biswas had illegally entered India through the West Bengal border along with his wife and family in 2016. He lived in the Nadia district of West Bengal and worked as a daily-wage labourer in Kolkata for nearly seven years.

Police said that after settling in India, the accused managed to obtain Indian identity documents, including an Aadhaar card and a PAN card. Using these documents, he allegedly secured an Indian passport from the Kolkata Passport Office in 2019. Investigators said he later used the passport to travel abroad, visiting the Maldives twice in 2023 and Colombo at least once without raising suspicion.

A police officer said the investigation is now focussed on identifying the agents who allegedly helped him procure forged Indian identity documents and the passport.

The accused was intercepted after arriving at Mumbai airport from Colombo. He approached the immigration counter to complete the mandatory immigration formalities and presented his Indian passport along with his boarding pass.

An Assistant Immigration Officer, who was on duty at Counter No. 23, said the passenger arrived in Mumbai on Sri Lankan Airlines flight UL141 at around 3.30 a.m.

“While examining the Indian passport, I suspected that the passenger was from Bangladesh. I asked him a few questions, but he failed to provide satisfactory answers,” the officer said.

Following the initial interrogation, the passenger was produced before the officer incharge of the Immigration Wing and other duty officers for detailed questioning. During the enquiry, officials reportedly established that he hailed from Faridpur in Bangladesh.

Police said the suspicion was confirmed after Biswas contacted his wife in Bangladesh through WhatsApp and asked her to send documents establishing his identity. She subsequently sent photocopies of land ownership documents registered in Bangladesh in the name of Biswas’ father, confirming his Bangladeshi origin.

An official from Sahar Police Station said the accused admitted during questioning that he had entered India illegally with his family in 2016. He further confessed that while living in West Bengal, he had obtained an Aadhaar card and a PAN card with the help of a local resident before securing an Indian passport using those documents.

Police are now investigating the network that allegedly facilitated the preparation of forged identity documents and enabled his illegal stay and international travel.

Meanwhile, the Mumbai Crime Branch recently announced that it has initiated the process of deporting 53 illegal Bangladeshi nationals who were apprehended during separate operations across the city. Further investigation into the case is underway.

Mumbai, July 26: Shiv Sena(UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray held a ‘victory march’ at Vasant Desai Chowk near Shivaji Park in Mumbai on Sunday, a day after the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as Union Education Minister following weeks of nationwide students’ agitation over exam irregularities.

Several NCP(SP) leaders also took part in the procession.

Speaking to reporters, Shiv Sena(UBT) MP Arvind Sawant hit out at the NDA, saying, “There are two words in English that apply here — one is hatred, and the other is arrogance. Both describe them. They created an atmosphere of hatred in the country, and that has now been shattered.”

Shiv Sena(UBT) MP Anil Desai said that the movement launched by students and the younger generation was “never just about seeking the resignation of a minister”.

“They highlighted the serious flaws in the education system and the need for reforms. These issues have persisted for a long time, and their impact is far-reaching. If the education system is weak, it contributes to problems like unemployment,” he told media.

MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande said: “Gen Zs have taught the nation that you should not be afraid of the government, and that is the key takeaway from this agitation.”

NCP(SP) MLA Rohit Pawar, who also took part in the procession, said: “Earlier, people were not united. But the injustice faced by students brought them and young people together. Youth from rural areas as well as cities came together, and their success has shown that if we stand united, we can win. This has sent a very important message to the people. It is an important lesson in protecting democracy and the Constitution.”

A youngster who had come to participate in the march said: “The students had been protesting for a long time because they felt the (examination) process was unfair. Now that the issue has reached its conclusion and they have achieved success, we have come here to celebrate.”

Another youth added that the movement showed that the government could be held “accountable” when citizens are not satisfied.

“The government was not answering questions…this movement has taught that people will hold the government accountable. We will continue to raise questions on every issue,” he told media.

Meanwhile, NCP(SP) leader Fahad Ahmad criticised the police action against protesters during the students’ agitation in Mumbai.

“It is very unfortunate how the police treated the students. We will meet the Police Commissioner tomorrow over this issue. The officer who allegedly threatened to plant cocaine has been suspended. But the policeman who allegedly touched a female student’s chest in Dadar should also be suspended, and all the cases registered against the students should be withdrawn,” he told media.

Acting on specific intelligence, NCB Mumbai intercepted three courier parcels on July 21 and July 25, which were bound for New Zealand. In this connection, a total of 10.990 kg of ephedrine was seized and an associate of a major drug smuggler named S Hameed was arrested from Chennai, Tamil Nadu. NCB Mumbai was actively working on an international ephedrine smuggling network that was operating from Chennai and was using fake documents to book international couriers in foreign countries. In an attempt to mislead the drug law enforcement agencies, the drug associates used to travel to several cities like Mumbai, Pune to book courier parcels. On July 21, a credible information was generated which led to the identification of two courier parcels suspected to be concealing ephedrine in New Zealand. Accordingly, NCB Mumbai intercepted two suspicious courier parcels in Mumbai. When opened, floor mats were found in both the parcels. On closer inspection, the mats contained 07 kg of ephedrine hidden between the layers of mats and rolls of cloth. When the documents attached to the courier were verified, they were found to be fake.

During the investigation, a suspect residing in the Triplicane area of ​​Chennai, Tamil Nadu was found. The investigation led to the identity and whereabouts of the suspect. During the search of the place, an associate of the drug smuggler named S Hameed was arrested with documents like packing material, digital weighing machine, heat sealing machines, plastic bags and fake identity cards, digital gadgets. Accordingly, S Hameed was arrested on July 23 and brought to Mumbai.

During the investigation, S Hameed revealed about another courier parcel which was in transit to New Zealand. The investigation led to the interception of this courier parcel in Kalyan district, Maharashtra on July 25. When this courier parcel was opened and examined, a similar procedure was noted in which 3.990 kilograms of ephedrine was hidden in layers of bed sheets and photo frames. Being a controlled substance that is misused to manufacture other illegal drugs, the source of the ephedrine is being traced along with other drug associates. Further investigation is underway in this case.

Ephedrine is a stimulant drug whose medical use is limited to hard drugs only. However, it is also illegally misused as a primary ingredient to manufacture methamphetamine, a highly addictive neurotoxin. Methamphetamine use alters the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain, causing euphoria and hallucinations that gradually take a toll on health and can be fatal in some cases.

This operation marks the continuous efforts of NCB in dismantling organised drug gangs and targeting habitual criminals who fuel the drug ecosystem. The Bureau is steadfast in its mission to protect public health and uphold the vision of a “Nisha Mukt Bharat” by 2047.

Citizens are appealed to play their role by reporting any information related to drugs through MANAS – National Narcotics Helpline (Toll Free No.: 1933). The identity of the informants is kept strictly confidential.