SUMAN K SHRIVASTAVA
Ranchi, Nov 16: The Special (ED) court today said that the four persons, whom the ED arrested three days back, are a threat to national security and the economy as they are deeply involved in grave and heinous activities that have cross-border implications and inter-state operations.
ED remand for 5 days
The court, which sent the four, Rony Mondal, Sandip Chowdhury, Pintu Haldar and Pinki Basu Mukherjee in the ED’s custody, for five days, said they are part of a bigger syndicate that operates extensively and discreetly across West Bengal and parts of Jharkhand, including Ranchi.
“They are engaged in facilitating the illegal infiltration of Bangladeshi nationals into India for carrying out illegal activities in lieu of generating proceeds of crime. The generation, acquisition, and use of proceeds of crime are corroborated by the seizure of mobile phones containing several incriminating chats relating to monetary transactions in lieu of illegal activities, including the prostitution of these girls,” the court said.
The court said it is a serious case involving Bangladeshi nationals in India and acquiring citizenship and settlement using fake documents.
ED arrested them on Nov 13
Notably, the ED arrested two Bangladeshi nationals namely Rony Mondal and Sandip Chowdhury and two Indian nationals, Pintu Haldar and Pinki Basu Mukherjee, in the Bangladeshi Infiltration case for facilitating illegal infiltration and human trafficking in India on November 13.
The ED, during raids, recovered various incriminating items, including fake Aadhars, forged passports, illegal arms, immovable property documents, cash, jewellery, printing papers, printing machines, and blank proformas used for forging Aadhaar cards in raids in connection with illegal Bangladeshi infiltration, conducted at 17 locations in Jharkhand and West Bengal.
The ED initiated an investigation based on an FIR registered by the Jharkhand Police under various Sections of IPC 1860, Passports Act 1967 and Foreigners Act, 1946. As per the aforesaid FIR, certain Bangladeshi girls have crossed India –Bangladesh Border illegally, in connivance with certain private agents to do illegal & immoral activities in India. Further, the case relates to the illegal infiltration of Bangladeshi citizens into India with the help of agents who are providing them with fake documents establishing Indian Citizenship.
The ED investigation till now revealed that a syndicate operates extensively across West Bengal and Jharkhand, which is engaged in facilitating the Proceeds of Crime out of the above-stated activities is corroborated by the seizure of mobile phones containing various incriminating chats relating to monetary transactions in lieu of above stated illegal activities including prostitution by these girls.
During search operations, documents have also been recovered which contain the details/list of the payments in lieu of the prostitution racket being run by the above syndicate.
