Kolkata: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids at eight locations across Bengal, including Beckbagan in Kolkata and Birati in North 24 Parganas, on Tuesday as part of their probe into the fake passport racket. Sources said a person from Gede has been detained. Kolkata Police busted the racket in Dec last year and arrested 10 people. A case was registered in Sept 2024, at the Bhowanipore Police Station after the Security Control Office (SCO) flagged multiple cases of passports being issued using forged documents. The case first came to light during an audit of the Regional Passport Office in Kolkata.
The Kolkata Police filed charges against 130 individuals earlier this year. While the 10 are still in custody, others are still absconding. Several suspects are believed to be Bangladeshi nationals, leading to lookout notices against 69 people.
On Tuesday, ED officials searched a residence in Bankra, while central forces secured the area. Locals said Azad Mallik, who operated a money exchange business and was allegedly involved in illegal transactions, resided there for approximately a year. With Mallik offering resistance, the ED officials forcibly accessed his premises. Various documents have been seized.
In Gede Uttarpara, ED officials searched Alok Nath's residence. Sources said he allegedly made fraudulent passports, Aadhaar, and EPIC cards.