ED raids 13 locations in Rohingya, Bangladeshi illegal infiltration and terror funding probe

Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday conducted searches at 13 locations across Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Delhi and Haryana in connection with an alleged terror-funding case linked to an illegal infiltration network involving Rohingya and Bangladeshi nationals, the agency said.

The searches were carried out by the ED's Lucknow Zonal Office under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The agency said digital devices and incriminating documents were seized during the searches, while statements of key persons are being recorded.

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The money laundering case stems from an FIR registered by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), which alleged that an organised syndicate facilitated the illegal infiltration of Rohingya and Bangladeshi nationals into India, arranged forged Indian identity documents, and helped rehabilitate them in different parts of the country.

According to the ED, the investigation has uncovered an alleged financial network involving certain charitable trusts and entities that received foreign contributions and diverted the funds through multiple bank accounts, mule accounts and layered transactions to facilitate the illegal activities under investigation.

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The ED alleged that the syndicate facilitated the illegal entry of Rohingya and Bangladeshi nationals through the International Border. The network allegedly arranged forged identity documents, including Aadhaar cards, PAN cards and passports, enabling the illegal infiltrators to stay in the country under fake Indian identities.

The agency is also investigating the role of certain charitable trusts, including public charitable trusts registered under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), which allegedly received funds from UK-based entities.

"These funds were disbursed in small tranches of Rs 6,000-10,000 to suspected individuals to facilitate their settlement in India. To generate a permanent source of income, the trusts allegedly arranged jobs, e-rickshaws or cash assistance for the alleged infiltrators," the agency said.