Maharashtra: One year jail, fine for Bangladeshi nationals living illegally in India

Thane: Two Bangladeshi nationals who had been living illegally in Thane district were convicted by an ad-hoc sessions court on Monday and sentenced to simple imprisonment of one year and three months each, with the court ordering their deportation to Bangladesh upon completion of their sentence.Ad-hoc Sessions Judge R. M. Rathod of the Additional Sessions Court, Thane, convicted Samir Ali Afsar Khan (24), and Ridoi Nasir Shaikh (22), both labourers residing in the Shilphata area, under Section 14 of the Foreigners Act, 1946. Each accused was also fined Rs 1,000, with a default clause of one month's additional imprisonment. Both have been in judicial custody since their arrest on Feb 17, 2025. The case stemmed from a police operation on Feb 17, 2025, when officers from Mumbra police station intercepted the two accused near Noor Hospital. The accused initially avoided disclosing their origins but later admitted they were natives of Bangladesh. They failed to produce any valid travel documents, passport, or visa.The court acquitted both accused of the more serious charge of the Foreigners Act, which pertains to entry into restricted areas. They were also acquitted under the Passport Rules, 1950, as prior central govt sanction for prosecution had not been obtained. Noting the accused had entered India out of poverty and had already served over a year in custody, the court imposed a sentence marginally above the period already undergone. Jail authority and Mumbra police station have been directed to initiate deportation immediately upon expiry of the sentence.