Mumbai, 11th December 2024: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) Special Court, Mumbai, has sentenced to five years imprisonment three Bangladeshis for illegal infiltration into India and possession of fake documents.

Mohammed Habibur Rehman Habib @ Raj Jesub Mandal, Hannan Anwar Hussain Khan @ Hannan Baburali Gazi, and Mohd Azarali Subhanallah@ Raja Jesub Mandal were convicted and sentenced to 5 years in jail, along with Rs 2,000 each as fine.

The case had originated from the FIR registered originally by Pune Police in March 2018 on the basis of inputs regarding several Bangladeshi nationals staying in Pune without valid documents, and abetting and aiding members of ABT, a front organization of the proscribed terror organisation, the Al Qaida.

Based on its investigations, NIA had, on 7th September 2018, filed a chargesheet against three above mentioned accused persons in case RC-01/2018/NIA/MUM u/s 120B r/w 471 of Indian Penal Code r/w 17, 19 & 20 of UA(P) Act, section 14 of Foreigners Act 1946 and two others namely Mohd. Ripen Hossain @ Rubel (A-2) and Mohd. Hassnali Mohd. Amirali (A-4) u/s 120B & 471 of IPC and section 14 of the Foreigners Act 1946. All five were eventually convicted and sentenced under IPC and Foreigners Act. Ripen Hussain @ Rubel and Mohammad Hasan Ali @ Mohammad Amer Ali, were convicted and sentenced to 5 years imprisonment each under IPC and Foreigners Act, earlier in October 2023, after they had pleaded guilty.

In context of the earlier press release issued on 28th November 2024 on the same subject, it is clarified that the conviction and sentencing of the three accused viz. Mohammed Habibur Rehman Habib @ Raj Jesub Mandal, Hannan Anwar Hussain Khan @ Hannan Baburali Gazi and Mohd Azarali Subhanallah@ Raja Jesub Mandal is under section 14 of the Foreigners Act (for overstaying in India without valid documentation), section 471 of the IPC (for using forged documents as genuine), and section 120-B of the IPC (for conspiracy related to document forgery).