Officials say much-needed facility will have recreational areas, basic amenities, and children’s play zone; the primary purpose of the detention centre is to house foreign nationals who have entered the country illegally or overstayed their visas, until arrangements for their repatriation are made.
The under-construction detention centre at Bhoiwada in Dadar East. PICS/AISHWARYA IYER
Amid a rise in the detention of illegal foreign nationals by the Mumbai Police, a new state-of-the-art detention centre is coming up in the bustling Bhoiwada area of Dadar East. Proposed by the Mumbai Police, approved by the Maharashtra government, and being constructed by the public works department, the facility is located a stone’s throw away from the Bhoiwada court and police station.
The primary purpose of the detention centre is to house foreign nationals who have entered the country illegally or overstayed their visas, until arrangements for their repatriation are made.
Currently, in the absence of a dedicated detention centre, the responsibility of housing detained foreign nationals rests with the Anti-Terrorism Cell (ATC) of the respective police stations. “Since they are neither criminals nor accused persons, they cannot be kept in police lock-ups or judicial custody. Once they are produced before a court, the process of deportation begins, which often takes months and, in some cases, years.
Until then, they are released with instructions not to leave the police station’s jurisdiction or the city. However, this system is unreliable. Many attempt to abscond at the first opportunity,” a police officer said. Echoing these concerns, another officer said, “This is why the detention centre is crucial. Instead of overcrowding police stations, detainees will have a designated space to stay. However, for years, there has been little to no progress on the project.”
Police officers describe the current arrangement as challenging, citing security and custody concerns. They clarified that the proposed detention centre will be different from a prison, with plans for recreational areas, basic amenities and a children’s play zone. Once completed, it is expected to house a large number of detainees.
Mumbai Police officials also said that the number of detained Bangladeshi nationals has risen significantly, and in the absence of a functional detention centre, the police face difficulties in holding them securely until their deportation.
Reason for delay
A senior Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) official explained the delay in the detention centre becoming operational. “Once a foreign national is detained, they are produced before a court. If the person has committed a criminal offence, they are remanded in police custody. In most cases, however, they are detainees and not accused. The court sends them to a detention centre, where they remain until the deportation process is completed. Since detainees are technically under judicial custody, police personnel cannot be deployed there. As per law, the centre requires staff from the social welfare or justice departments, not the police. This need for a large number of such personnel is one of the key reasons for the delay,” the official said. Despite the need, there is still no clarity on when the detention centre will be made operational.
Crackdown intensifying
Mumbai Police data show a steady rise in action against illegal foreign nationals, particularly Bangladeshi nationals. In 2025, around 1000 Bangladeshi nationals were deported from Mumbai. In 2024, nearly 300 were detained, with about 160 deported. The numbers in 2023 were considerably lower, running into double digits, highlighting the sharp escalation in recent enforcement drives.
Police personnel booked for stealing
In a rare development during the recent crackdown on illegal immigration, an FIR was registered against police personnel attached to the RCF police station in Chembur following allegations of misconduct during an anti-infiltration operation. Four Anti-Terrorism Cell personnel were arrested and later suspended after a complaint alleged that cash and gold jewellery were taken during a raid on a woman suspected to be a Bangladeshi national. The complaint was filed by a social activist on the woman’s behalf, and the case is currently under investigation.
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