Human trafficking case: Pune cops cleared many passports from same address

Pune has reportedly become a favoured destination for Bangladeshi nationals seeking to travel abroad by acquiring Indian passports with the aid of fraudulent Indian documents. According to reports, Pune is evolving into a new hub for the production of counterfeit documents for Bangladeshi nationals. Last month, Borivli police arrested 21 Bangladeshi citizens who had illegally entered India. Upon their arrest, authorities discovered eight Indian passports in their possession, while the remaining 13 individuals had applied for passports.

The police revealed that this criminal group was responsible for creating counterfeit identity and residential documents, which helped them to get Indian passports for Bangladeshi nationals seeking visas for employment in Gulf countries. In just two years, the gang allegedly sent a minimum of 70 Bangladeshi individuals to Gulf countries using Indian passports.

Cops showing the confiscated fake passports and documents. File pic

The initial breakthrough in this case occurred on October 20 when the Borivli police arrested 17 Bangladeshis. They were charged with residing in India without valid documents and attempting to obtain identification using forged papers, leading to more information about the human trafficking ring. Following investigations, three more accused were arrested in the case.

Allegations suggest that the police stations concerned overlooked detailed checks on the accused individuals' residential addresses. An officer from the Borivli police highlighted, "We found identical addresses on multiple Indian passports seized from those arrested. Moreover, passport applications of other suspects featured similar addresses. The respective police stations provided positive reports without verifying these details. We've alerted the passport department regarding this issue."

Further investigation revealed that over 200 fake websites, resembling government portals, exist where people can obtain birth certificates online. Agents use these websites to create false birth certificates for Bangladeshis. Subsequently, the accused Sainath Yeilwad, Gangaprasad Karpe, Kusum Gaikwad, and others used these birth certificates to produce Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, and other necessary documents, including rental agreements required for passport applications. ese agents charge a fee of Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000 per person for their services.