Police said deportation proceedings had been initiated against five of them.
MUMBAI: The Khar police’s Anti-Terrorism Cell (ATC) arrested six Bangladeshi nationals, including three women, on September 29 for allegedly entering India illegally and staying in Bhayandar without valid passports, travel documents or visas. Police said deportation proceedings had been initiated against five of them, while a case was registered against Iqbal Akbarali Shaikh alias Gautam Sunil Datta (35) under Section 24 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025. Besides Iqbal, those arrested were Rana Molla Imdadul Molla alias Rana Shah (20), Samim Mizanur Sardar alias Raju Narendra (25), Mosamod Munjila Khatun alias Sila Sardar alias Riya Datta (23), Mafuja Akthar Lima alias Kavita Shah (25), and Halima Akthar alias Monica Datta (26). Police recovered photocopies of Bangladeshi identity documents or a birth certificate from the accused and seized four mobile phones, each valued at Rs 5,000.
Four of the six had previously been deported to Bangladesh, according to police. Police said Iqbal subsequently put the five in touch with agents who arranged accommodation for them at the Golden Nest and Geeta Sarovar buildings in Bhayandar and helped them secure jobs. The six were detained around 3pm after police found them behaving suspiciously near Bandra Traffic Chowki on SV Road. They were allegedly employed as labourers, domestic workers and beauty parlour staff.
An officer recognised some of them from earlier action against illegal immigration.
Police records also revealed that he was out on bail in an earlier case related to his alleged illegal entry and stay in India.
During questioning, Iqbal allegedly told police that he had been travelling between Bangladesh and India for around five years.