The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday conducted searches at 13 locations across Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana and West Bengal as part of a money laundering investigation into the alleged illegal infiltration of Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingyas into India. Officials said the probe centres on a suspected network that allegedly used charitable trusts registered under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) to facilitate illegal immigration and provide financial support to infiltrators.
The searches were carried out by the ED’s Lucknow zonal office in Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh, Jamia Nagar in Delhi, Ballabhgarh in Haryana, and the West Bengal districts of South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas and Murshidabad.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
The investigation stems from a money laundering case registered by the ED in 2024 based on a First Information Report filed by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS). According to the ATS, an organised syndicate allegedly enabled the illegal entry of Rohingya and Bangladeshi nationals into India, arranged forged identity documents such as Aadhaar cards, PAN cards and passports, and helped them settle in different parts of the country.
The ED alleges that the network operated through certain charitable trusts and associated entities that received significant foreign contributions, including funds from some UK-based organisations. Investigators suspect these funds were diverted through multiple bank accounts, mule accounts and layered financial transactions before being used to support the alleged infiltration network.
Officials believe the money was distributed in small amounts, including Rs 6,000, Rs 8,000 and Rs 10,000, to suspected beneficiaries to assist them in establishing themselves in India. The agency alleges the funds were used for economic rehabilitation by providing direct cash assistance, employment opportunities and assets such as e-rickshaws.
According to the ED, one network based in border districts of West Bengal allegedly facilitated the illegal entry of Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingyas, while another arranged forged identity documents before sending them to different parts of the country for work and settlement. The investigation is ongoing, and the agency is examining the financial trail and the role of the trusts in the alleged money laundering operation.
