India, July 17 -- The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday carried out searches across several states in connection with a money laundering probe into the alleged illegal infiltration and rehabilitation of Rohingyas and Bangladeshi nationals in India. The searches were conducted by the ED's Lucknow Zonal Office under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, at residential premises of various accused persons in Kolkata, North and South 24 Parganas and Murshidabad in Bengal, Ballabhgarh in Haryana, Deoband in Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and other locations. According to the ED, a network of criminal elements was facilitating the illegal entry of Rohingyas and Bangladeshis through international borders, arranging their permanent stay in the country and providing forged Indian passports, Aadhaar cards, PAN cards and other identity documents.
The agency alleged that certain public charitable trusts registered under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) and based in Delhi had links with UK-based entities that channelled funds to support the illegal migration of Rohingyas and Bangladeshis into India. The ED claimed that the migrants were provided financial assistance for employment, purchase of e-rickshaws and settlement in different States. The funds were allegedly routed in small amounts ranging from Rs 6,000 to Rs 10,000 to various beneficiaries. Investigators further alleged that one criminal group operating from West Bengal's border districts facilitated illegal infiltration, while another group prepared forged documents and distributed them across the country. During searches at Harora Al Jamiatul Islamia Darul Uloom in Kalikapur, West Bengal, the ED recovered Rs 40 lakh in cash and 180 grams of gold coins.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.