Bengal Fake Passport Scam: ED Arrests Racket Kingpin Alok Nath After Day-Long Raid

Crackdown Near Indo-Bangladesh Border Unmasks Major Passport Forgery Nexus

Kolkata, April 16 In a major breakthrough in the Bengal fake passport racket, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday night arrested the alleged kingpin, Alok Nath, after an extensive day-long raid. Nath was apprehended near the Gede International Border in West Bengal’s Nadia district.

According to ED sources, Nath was operating a sophisticated racket that facilitated illegal Bangladeshi nationals in obtaining forged Indian passports. In a coordinated operation, ED teams conducted simultaneous searches across multiple locations in Kolkata, North 24 Parganas, and Nadia districts, seizing incriminating documents, digital records, laptops, and mobile phones.

13-Hour Interrogation Leads to Arrest

Officials confirmed that Nath was questioned for nearly 13 hours before being taken to the CGO Complex in Salt Lake for formal arrest under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The agency suspects a deeper network of illegal cross-border activity involving identity fraud and corruption in official processes.

Charge Sheet Names 130 Accused, Including 120 Illegal Immigrants

Earlier, Kolkata Police had filed a charge sheet implicating 130 individuals in the racket—120 of whom were identified as Bangladeshi nationals who allegedly paid hefty sums for Indian passports. The remaining 10 accused are Indian citizens who reportedly assisted in forging identity documents.

The charge sheet details how these individuals manipulated the system to produce fake Indian IDs and passports, thereby enabling illegal immigration and potential national security threats.

Retired ASI Also Arrested for Bribery and Fraudulent Verifications

The investigation also led to the arrest of retired Assistant Sub-Inspector Abdul Hai, accused of extorting bribes for police verification in 52 cases. Instead of conducting physical verifications, Hai allegedly completed the process from his office in exchange for money.

More Arrests Expected as ED Probes Money Laundering Angle

The ED is now delving deeper into the financial trail and potential money laundering links associated with the racket. With mounting evidence and digital records under scrutiny, officials suggest that more arrests may follow in the coming days.