06 June,2026 04:20 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Investigation underway into alleged illegal stay of Bangladeshi nationals in Mumbai. Representational Pic
In continuation of crackdown against illegal immigration, Mumbai Police arrested seven Bangladeshi nationals who were allegedly living in India without valid documents for around 15 years, reported IANS.
The operation was carried out by the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) Police in Andheri after officials received specific intelligence inputs about undocumented foreign nationals visiting the area in search of work.
Based on the information, police laid a trap and detained the suspects.
According to police, the arrested group consists of four men, two women and one minor boy.
Initial investigations suggest that the individuals had entered India illegally and had been living in Mumbai for nearly one-and-a-half decade while avoiding detection by authorities, reported the news agency.
Officials said the accused were in regular contact with relatives and associates in Bangladesh through phone calls.
Police have launched a detailed investigation into the background, movements and contacts of the arrested individuals.
Authorities are also trying to identify people who may have helped them enter India, find accommodation or secure jobs during their stay in Mumbai.
Further inquiries are currently underway, and more details are expected as the investigation progresses.
The arrests come as Maharashtra Police continue a statewide campaign against undocumented Bangladeshi nationals allegedly residing illegally in different cities, as per the news agency.
In recent months, police have carried out several intelligence-based operations and verification drives to identify foreign nationals living in India without legal authorisation.
A similar operation was conducted by Versova Police in February this year in Mumbai's Yari Road area of Andheri West, as per reports.
During that drive, police arrested 25 Bangladeshi nationals who were allegedly staying in India illegally. The group included 21 transgender persons, two women and two men.
Authorities later began the process of deporting the detained individuals to Bangladesh.
Investigators alleged that the accused had entered India illegally through Kolkata before travelling through Delhi and Gujarat and eventually settling in Mumbai.
Police claimed that after arriving in the city, they obtained multiple fake Indian identity documents to establish residency and avoid detection, reported the news agency.
During the operation, officers seized several Indian and Bangladeshi documents, which are being examined as part of an investigation into alleged document fraud and illegal immigration networks.
Authorities said investigations are continuing to determine the extent of illegal immigration and document-forgery networks operating in Maharashtra and other parts of the country.
Police are also working to identify individuals who may have assisted undocumented foreign nationals in obtaining housing, employment and identity documents.
(With IANS Inputs)
