Bangladeshi Immigrant Arrested After 34 Years in Mumbai for Fake Documents and Illegal Stay

MUMBAI: Mohin Hayat Badshah Sheikh, a 51-year-old Bangladeshi national, has been arrested by the Anti-Terrorism Cell (ATC) of Cuffe Parade for possessing Indian documents fraudulently and illegally residing in the country for over three decades. Originally from Chittagong, Sheikh entered India at the age of 17, crossing the border without official documents.

In an investigation sparked by a tip-off from the Nagpada ATC, the police discovered that Sheikh had been living in Mumbai under several fake identities for the past 34 years. He held key Indian documents like an Aadhaar card, PAN card, voter card, and a driver’s license, and had participated in elections, casting his vote in both Lok Sabha and state polls. Authorities also found a Bangladeshi ID and birth certificate among his belongings but no Indian passport.

Since arriving in Mumbai, Sheikh has been involved in teaching Urdu and the Quran in areas such as Mumbra, Kurla, Govandi, and Parel. He worked as a cleaner at Hotel Supreme while simultaneously tutoring children at his residence in Cuffe Parade’s Ambedkar Nagar. Additionally, he reportedly sent money to Bangladesh by traveling to Kolkata and using agents to cross the border.

The police arrested Sheikh after a thorough investigation, and he has been remanded to custody until December 24, 2024, as inquiries continue.