Bangladeshi National Apprehended at Mumbai Airport Over Fraudulent Indian Passport
In a significant immigration fraud case, a Bangladeshi national was intercepted at Mumbai International Airport while attempting to board an international flight using a counterfeit Indian passport. The incident, which unfolded on the morning of March 11, highlights vulnerabilities in border security and document verification processes.
Details of the Airport Interception
Mardy Liton, a 38-year-old Bangladeshi citizen who had adopted the alias Liton Das, was stopped by immigration officials at approximately 8 am. He was about to board flight AI-2354 destined for Bangkok, Thailand, where he intended to meet his girlfriend, also a Bangladeshi national employed in the city. The arrest occurred as Liton presented his passport for check-in stamping, having arrived at the airport from Goa.
Discovery of the Fraudulent Passport
Assistant Immigration Officer Swaminath Date became suspicious upon reviewing Liton's passport, which was issued by the Kolkata Passport Office in West Bengal. The document was flagged with a "DRILS STATUS" alert, an acronym indicating damage, revocation, impoundment, loss, or theft. This status typically renders a passport invalid and bars the holder from travel. Upon further inspection, authorities confirmed the passport was fraudulent, leading to Liton's immediate detention and subsequent arrest by the Sahar police.
Confession and Illegal Entry into India
During interrogation, Liton confessed to entering India illegally in 2018 via the Haridaspur Immigration Check Post along the Bangladesh border. He initially resided in Kolkata, West Bengal, before relocating to Porvorim, Goa. In 2022, with the assistance of a local agent, he obtained fake Indian documents under the name Liton Das, paying Rs 50,000 for the service. Using these forged papers, he secured an Indian passport from the Kolkata Passport Office.
Travel History and Employment in India
With the fraudulent passport, Liton traveled to Bangladesh twice and once to Bangkok prior to the March 11 incident. In Goa, he worked as a waiter at a hotel, evading detection by local law enforcement. His ability to move freely and obtain employment underscores challenges in monitoring illegal immigrants within the country.
Police Statement and Legal Implications
A police officer from the Sahar police station explained that the DRILS status is a critical alert in immigration systems, signaling adverse actions against passport holders. "When a passport is marked with a DRILS status, it means the document is invalidated, and the holder is prohibited from traveling," the officer stated. The case has been registered, and Liton faces charges related to immigration fraud, forgery, and illegal entry, highlighting ongoing efforts to combat such security breaches at Indian airports.
