Bodhan passport racket: Cyberabad police arrest eight including four Bangladeshis, two Telangana cops

The Regional Passport Officer, Hyderabad was asked to cancel 72 passports that were issued under the racket

The Cyberabad police arrested eight persons, including four Bangladeshis, in the Bodhan case where 72 Indian passports were obtained fraudulently from seven addresses - 37 of them issued from one house alone.

15 of these 72 passports issued were linked to one phone number.

19 persons have already made their way abroad to eight countries using these passports. 10 of them went to UAE.

Bodhan is a town in the Nizamabad district of north Telangana. The arrested also include two Telangana policemen whose improper clearance has allowed the passport issuance.

The fraud was discovered on January 24 when three Bangladesh nationals - Nitai Das alias Sanjib Dutta, Mohammed Hasibur Rehman, Ramu Das and Mohammed Rana Mia, Sandip Mondal attempted to depart for Dubai from Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Shamshabad, with the fraudulently obtained Indian passports. The three are prime accused in the case.

Based on the duty immigration officials' complaint, the Cyberabad police registered a case under 420, 468, 471 IPC, and Section 14 of the Foreigners Act, 1946.

On Tuesday, Cyberabad police commissioner VC Sajjanar revealed the details of the crime.

“All three Bangladesh nationals revealed that they stayed at Bodhan and with the help of one agent Shahnaj Pail @ Sabuj from West Bengal obtained fake Aadhaar cards, used to get the Indian passports fraudulently,” Sajjanar told reporters.

Parimal Bain Shivam, a Bangladeshi residing in Bodhan and operating as a passport agent is the fifth accused.

Sameer (A-4) was a mediator helping foreigners enter illegally into India. Shahnaj Pail Sabuj (A-6) arranged flight tickets through his friend Saddam Hussain (A-9), a Mumbai resident. Mateen Ahmed Mirza (A-7) of Bodhan fabricated Aadhar cards. Manoj (A-8), residing in Iraq, and native of West Bengal arranged visas.

Sub Inspector Peruka Mallesh Rao (A-10) and Assistant Sub Inspector Anil Kumar (A-11) are the police officers who conducted the verification inquiry. Sajjanar said that the policemen allegedly took money for issuing the NOC for passport issuance.

While Sameer (A-4), Manoj (A-8) and Saddam Hussain (A-9) are absconding, eight other arrested persons were sent to judicial custody.

“12 of these passports were issued based on the Aadhaar cards obtained in Bodhan, while the rest 60 were made in West Bengal with change of addresses effected here,” DCP, Shamshabad, Prakash Reddy told DH.

The Regional Passport Officer, Hyderabad was asked to cancel these 72 passports.

“We have also requested for Look Out Circulars (LOC) against them. Also, we are coordinating with UIDAI regarding cancellation of these 72 Aadhaar cards. We are appraising the district collectors and SPs of various West Bengal districts regarding these 72 persons. Special teams are formed to trace the remaining passport holders and the absconders,” CP Sajjanar said.