Navi Mumbai police intensify crackdown on Bangladeshis

Over the past four months, the Navi Mumbai police have launched an extensive crackdown on illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, prompting many to flee the city. The Crime Branch has formed special teams to investigate suspects and has checked the documents of over 7000 individuals. Of these, approximately 1250 are suspected to be Bangladeshi nationals. Investigations have revealed that many of the suspects possess fake certificates allegedly issued by village heads (Sarpanch) in districts of West Bengal bordering Bangladesh. These certificates lack serial numbers, making verification difficult. More than 1200 such documents are currently being examined by multiple teams of the Navi Mumbai Crime Branch.

As part of the investigation, teams from the Navi Mumbai Crime Branch travelled to several districts in West Bengal to verify the authenticity of certain documents. It was discovered that illegal immigrants often begin by obtaining a birth certificate—with the help of a local Sarpanch—and subsequently use agents to acquire other documents such as Aadhaar cards and ration cards.

Jabir Shaikh and Nusrat Kazi

The Navi Mumbai Crime Branch has written to local authorities in West Bengal regarding suspected fake birth certificates issued by village heads in multiple districts, particularly in Malda, 24 Parganas, and Murshidabad, which appear to be the main sources of these documents. “We have written to the local authorities and the police seeking details, as we suspect these birth certificates are fake and do not contain valid serial numbers. However, we have not received any details yet,” said ACP Ajay Kumar Landge.

“The Crime Branch has so far verified 187 birth certificates, of which four were found to be fake. Even the Sarpanch confirmed that those certificates were not issued by their office,” said an officer from the Crime Branch. “It is suspected that the network operates through areas where illegal Bangladeshi nationals enter West Bengal. With the help of local agents, they obtain fake birth certificates purportedly issued by the Sarpanch. Now, local authorities are refusing to share further details.”

One such agent was recently arrested in Navi Mumbai in a joint operation by the Meghalaya Police and the Navi Mumbai Crime Branch. According to officials, the crackdown has already led to the departure of around 20 Bangladeshi nationals from Navi Mumbai. These individuals attempted to cross into Bangladesh via Meghalaya but were apprehended by local police. Investigations revealed they had been residing in Navi Mumbai and were aided by an agent identified as Jabir Shaikh, who is also suspected to be a Bangladeshi national. Shaikh allegedly provided them with logistical support and helped them open bank accounts.

The Meghalaya Police arrested two individuals from Navi Mumbai in connection with a syndicate. Shaikh was apprehended from Ulwe, while a woman identified as Nusrat Kazi, an Indian national, was arrested from Koparkhairane for assisting Shaikh in the syndicate’s operations. Another agent, identified as Mohammed Mujib Shaikh, was arrested from Wadala with the help of the Mumbai police. Officials revealed that Mohammed was involved in creating forged PAN cards. According to the Crime Branch, Shaikh had been residing in Navi Mumbai for the past ten years. It is suspected that he is a Bangladeshi national and has been running a network of illegal immigrants by helping them obtain basic documents and open bank accounts. “We have checked his banking details and found multiple transactions with some immigrants. Others who have been in contact with him are currently being verified,” said Landge.

According to official data from the Navi Mumbai Crime Branch, around 58 cases were registered and 151 accused were arrested in 2024. In 2025, so far, 68 cases have been registered and 141 accused have been arrested while 26 individuals have been deported by the Crime Branch.