The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday stated it has arrested a Bangladeshi nationwide in Kolkata underneath the anti-money laundering legislation for his position in getting ready “unlawful” Indian passports and Aadhaar playing cards for residents of his nation.
Ajad Mallik alias Ahammed Hossain Azad was taken into custody on Tuesday following searches at seven premises in West Bengal, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) stated in an announcement.
A particular Prevention of Cash Laundering Act (PMLA) courtroom in Kolkata despatched Mallik to 13-day ED custody the identical day, the federal probe company stated within the assertion.
Various incriminating paperwork, digital gadgets and money amounting to Rs 13.45 lakh have been seized by the ED in the course of the searches in opposition to Mallik, the assertion stated.
The cash laundering case stems from a neighborhood police FIR in opposition to Mallik, who was booked underneath the Foreigners Act of 1946 for residing in India “with out legitimate paperwork” and for his “involvement” in making Indian passport and different paperwork by way of “fraudulent” means for unlawful immigrants in lieu of cash.
The company stated a variety of financial institution accounts have been being maintained within the title of Mallik and his proprietorship agency — Mallik Buying and selling Company.
He was concerned within the enterprise of arranging “fraudulently” obtained id paperwork like Voter ID card, passport, Aadhaar card, and so forth., for Bangladeshi nationals, the assertion stated.
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The accused generated “proceeds of crime” and “substantial” money was deposited within the accounts between 2018 and 2024, it stated.
The ED stated its probe discovered that Mallik’s household, comprising his spouse Maymuna Akhter and two sons, Osama Bin Azad and Omar Faruk, have been Bangladeshi residents and lived within the neighbouring nation.
India shares a 4,096 km-long worldwide border with Bangladesh.
Mallik “steadily” visited Bangladesh to satisfy his household, the ED assertion stated.
The ED additionally alleged that Mallik was concerned in hawala transactions and “siphoned off” funds acquired by him in lieu of arranging Indian authorities issued ID proofs for Bangladeshi nationals.
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He was additionally offering “unauthorised” foreign money trade providers to varied people, the company stated.