India's Directorate of Enforcement (ED) today (16 July) conducted raids at multiple locations across four states as part of an investigation into an alleged money laundering network linked to the illegal infiltration of Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingyas into the country.
The searches were carried out at around 13 premises in Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana and the border districts of West Bengal under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), reports Indian media, citing officials.
The ED is investigating an alleged syndicate that operated through public charitable trusts registered under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), which are suspected of receiving funds from certain UK-based entities.
The raids were conducted in Saharanpur (Deoband) in Uttar Pradesh, Jamia Nagar in Delhi, Ballabhgarh in Haryana, and the districts of South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas and Murshidabad in West Bengal.
According to investigators, around 40 lakh rupee in cash and 180 grams of gold coins were seized from the office and library of Harora Al-Jamiatul Islamia Darul Uloom at Kalilkapur in West Bengal.
The money laundering investigation stems from a 2024 First Information Report (FIR) filed by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), which alleged the existence of an organised network facilitating the illegal entry of Rohingyas and Bangladeshi nationals into India.
The ATS alleged that the syndicate arranged forged Indian identity documents, including Aadhaar cards, PAN cards and passports, and helped the infiltrators settle in different parts of the country.
Officials said the ATS investigation uncovered what it described as a "deep-rooted" financial network involving charitable trusts and other entities that allegedly received substantial foreign donations before diverting the funds through multiple bank accounts, mule accounts and layered transactions to facilitate illegal activities.
The ED suspects the money was transferred to individuals in small instalments of 6,000, 8,000 and 10,000 rupees to help them establish themselves in India.
Investigators also suspect that one group operating in West Bengal's border districts facilitated the illegal entry of Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingyas. In contrast, another group allegedly arranged identity documents before sending them to different parts of India for employment and other purposes.
Infiltration / India / Bangladeshi / Rohingya
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