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.
He is accused of facilitating their entry into India, arranging accommodation and helping them find employment.
The six were detained around 3pm after police found them behaving suspiciously near Bandra Traffic Chowki on SV Road. An officer recognised some of them from earlier action against illegal immigration. According to police, four of the six had previously been deported to Bangladesh.
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.
During questioning, Iqbal allegedly told police that he had been travelling between Bangladesh and India for around five years. Police records also revealed that he was out on bail in an earlier case related to his alleged illegal entry and stay in India.
Halima reportedly told investigators that she had entered India around six months ago with Iqbal's assistance. The other four allegedly said they had crossed the Bangladesh border on September 20 without valid documents and paid Iqbal, whose associates had helped them enter the country.
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. They were allegedly employed as labourers, domestic workers and beauty parlour staff.
Deportation proceedings against the five have been initiated, and police are also seeking orders to restrict their movement until they are deported.
DCP (Mumbai Crime) Raj Tilak Roshan said 1,066 Bangladeshi nationals allegedly staying illegally in India had been deported up to the end of August 2026, compared with 1,061 in 2025 and 164 in 2024. Since 2024,
Mumbai Police have registered 658 cases and arrested 995 people allegedly residing illegally in the city.
