Bangladeshi woman with Indian passport arrested in Maharashtra
What's the story
Shahnaz Choudhari alias Shila Akhtar, a 29-year-old Bangladeshi woman, was arrested by the Pimpri Chinchwad police on Friday in Maharashtra. She has been charged with illegally securing multiple Indian documents, including an Indian passport.
The arrest was made after a verification process found discrepancies in her documents.
The case is being investigated by Police Sub Inspector Natha Kekan of the Pimpri police station.
Document discrepancies
Suspicious passport triggers investigation
The case was registered after Havaldar Reshma Gaikar of Pimpri police station noticed discrepancies in the passport particulars of the accused during an annual verification drive for Indian passport applicants.
The Anti-Terrorist Bureau (ATB) of the Pimpri Chinchwad police was informed about the suspicious passport holder.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Shivaji Pawar and Police Inspector Vikas Raut of the ATB began an inquiry into the case.
Inconsistent answers
Accused's lack of knowledge raises suspicion
When questioned at the Pimpri police station, the woman didn't answer satisfactorily about India when asked simple questions, according to officials.
This inconsistency prompted a search of her phone, which showed multiple contacts with Bangladesh's country code +880.
The FIR also mentioned that she had been in touch with friends in Bangladesh through social media and phone calls.
Further probe revealed her birth certificate was fake.
Document fraud
Accused's illegal acquisition of Indian documents
Police recovered an Indian Aadhaar card, PAN card, passport, and other documents from her possession.
The FIR also showed copies of her Bangladeshi ID card and passport in the name of Shila Akhtar and a tourist visa she had procured from Bangladesh to enter India.
Investigation revealed she had entered India around 2018 with the help of an agent and had been staying at various places before settling down as a housewife at Nehru Nagar in Pimpri.
Legal action
Accused arrested under multiple sections
She is accused of destroying her Bangladeshi passport after reaching India and not renewing her visa, which lapsed in 2019.
Instead, she allegedly acquired an Indian passport fraudulently and even traveled to Bangladesh on a tourist visa.
She was arrested on Friday under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Foreigners Act, and Passport Act.