A Bangladeshi national was intercepted at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport while trying to travel to Congo using a counterfeit Indian passport. Authorities uncovered a network of forged documents during immigration checks. The Sahar Police have initiated a thorough investigation into the matter.
The individual’s attempt to flee using the fake passport was thwarted due to discrepancies in the presented documents. Further scrutiny revealed multiple counterfeit identification papers in the possession of the accused. The vigilance of immigration officials led to the exposure of a significant fraud scheme.
The passenger, initially appearing to hold a legitimate Indian passport, raised suspicion when officials noticed a Bangladeshi country code linked to the provided mobile number. Subsequent questioning exposed the individual’s true identity as Sukanta Mallick, a 39-year-old resident of Gopalganj district in Bangladesh.
Sukanta Mallick confessed to illegally entering India in 2012 and obtaining the forged Indian passport in 2022. Additionally, investigations unveiled his possession of fraudulently acquired identification documents like a PAN card, Voter ID, and Ration Card. The accused was en route to Congo from Mumbai with intentions of settling abroad using the falsified Indian identity.
Authorities recovered various documents from the individual, including the fake Indian papers, a Bangladeshi birth certificate, his mother’s passport, and a mobile phone. Suspicions of the involvement of an organized syndicate in producing forged documents have arisen, indicating a larger operation facilitating illegal residency and movement abroad.
Following the arrest, the Immigration Department transferred the accused to the Sahar Police for legal proceedings. Charges against him include fraud, forgery, and illegal stay in the country. Security measures at the airport have been heightened post the incident, with ongoing efforts to trace accomplices involved in procuring the forged documents for the attempted travel.
