During its investigation, the federal agency found that funds were allegedly transferred to suspected individuals in small instalments of Rs 6,000, Rs 8,000, Rs 10,000 and other similar amounts to assist infiltrators in establishing themselves in India.
Officials familiar with the investigation said that the ultimate utilisation of the allegedly laundered funds was directed towards the economic rehabilitation of illegal immigrants with the objective of permanently anchoring them within India.
The ED investigation revealed that the alleged syndicate was actively involved in facilitating the entry of Rohingya and Bangladeshi nationals through international borders, arranging their permanent illegal rehabilitation, and altering their identities through forged Indian documents, including Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, and passports.
The agency further found that one group operating in the border districts of West Bengal was allegedly responsible for helping illegal Rohingya and Bangladeshi nationals enter India. Another group was allegedly engaged in preparing forged documents for these individuals, after which they were sent to different parts of the country in search of employment, livelihood opportunities, or other purposes.
According to officials, the charitable trust involved in the network allegedly provided financial assistance or alternative arrangements to generate permanent sources of income for infiltrators, including e-rickshaws, employment opportunities, or cash benefits.
The ED uncovered these details while its Lucknow Zonal Office conducted search operations on Thursday at 13 locations across five states, including Delhi. The searches were carried out at premises located in Kolkata, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Murshidabad in West Bengal, Ballabhgarh in Faridabad, Deoband in Saharanpur, and other locations under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
During the search operations, ED teams examined digital devices and allegedly incriminating documents. Statements of key individuals connected with the case were also recorded by the agency.
The 13 locations searched by the ED were spread across West Bengal, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Maharashtra.
The raids began early in the morning under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, and were conducted at the premises of suspected individuals in coordination with state police authorities.
The locations searched included Batla House and Madanpur Khadar in Delhi, Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh, Raigarh in Maharashtra, and South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, Kolkata, and Murshidabad in West Bengal.
Institutions including Sun Shine Health and Social Welfare Society in Madanpur Khadar, Kabirbag Millat Academy in North 24 Parganas, and Harora Al-Jamiatul Islamia Darul Uloom were among the organisations searched by the ED team along with certain individual suspects in connection with ECIR No. ECIR/LKZO/14/2024.
Officials stated that the case originated from a First Information Report registered by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) regarding an organised syndicate allegedly involved in facilitating the illegal infiltration of Rohingya and Bangladeshi nationals into India, arranging forged Indian identity documents, and supporting their rehabilitation in various parts of the country.
The preliminary investigation revealed an extensive financial network involving certain charitable trusts and entities that allegedly received substantial foreign contributions and diverted the funds through multiple bank accounts, mule accounts, and layered financial transactions to facilitate illegal activities.
The ED investigation has brought attention to an alleged cross-border financial and logistical network involving foreign-funded entities, forged identity documentation, and organised mechanisms for illegal settlement, with the agency continuing its probe under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
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