Mumbai: Khar police’s Anti-Terrorism Cell on Tuesday arrested six Bangladeshi nationals, including three women, for allegedly entering India illegally and staying in Bhayander without valid documents.
Police said five face deportation proceedings, while a case was registered against Iqbal Akbarali Shaikh alias Gautam Sunil Datta (35) under Section 24 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, for allegedly facilitating their entry, accommodation and employment.
The six were detained after police found them behaving suspiciously near Bandra traffic chowky on SV Road around 3 pm. An officer recognised some of them from previous action over illegal entry. Police said four had earlier been deported to Bangladesh.
Besides Iqbal, those detained 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 Bangladesh identity documents and seized four mobile phones valued at Rs 5,000 each from them.
During questioning, Iqbal allegedly said he had travelled between Bangladesh and India for about five years. Police records showed that he was on bail in an earlier case involving his alleged illegal entry and stay.
Halima told police she had entered India about six months earlier with Iqbal’s help. The other four said they crossed the Bangladesh border on Sept 20 without valid documents and paid Iqbal, whose associates allegedly helped them enter India.
Police said Iqbal connected the five Bangladeshis with agents who arranged accommodation at Golden Nest and Geeta Sarovar buildings in Bhayander and helped them find work as labourers and domestic help.
DCP (Mumbai Crime) Raj Tilak Roshan said 1,066 illegal Bangladeshi nationals were deported in the first eight months of 2026, compared with 1,061 in 2025 and 164 in 2024.
Since 2024, Mumbai police have registered 658 offences and arrested 995 people allegedly residing illegally in the city.
