Maharashtra ATS arrests 4 Bangladeshi nationals for procuring Indian passports using fake documents

The four arrested persons were identified as Riyaz Hussain Shaikh (33), Sultan Siddique Shaikh (54), Ibrahim Shaliullah Shaikh (46) and Farooq Usmangani Shaikh (39). They were staying in Andheri, Malwani and Jogeshwari area.

The officials said that they were recently tipped off that the four Bangladeshi nationals were illegally staying in India and were shifting their base to Surat in Gujarat.

An officer said, “Accordingly we laid traps outside their houses and caught them. They were brought to the ATS office and during their questioning it was revealed that they were previously arrested for illegally staying in India.”

The ATS officials added that the four were bailed out and despite that, they continued to stay in Mumbai.

“They went to make fake documents on the basis of which they even managed to get Indian Passports,” said an investigator adding, “There are five more wanted accused in the case of which one has traveled to Saudi Arabia and is working on Indian passport there.”

Further probe revealed that the four accused even voted during the Lok Sabha polls in May.

“The four claimed that they got Indian passports to prove that they are residents of the country and because the passport helped them in travelling abroad and getting jobs in foreign countries,” an officer said.

The ATS officials said that the four accused were booked under relevant sections of forgery of the IPC and Passport Act. The four were produced before court and remanded in ATS custody.

“The investigation is going on as to whether or not the accused are related to terrorist activities,” an officer said