Latest news with #ForeignersRegistrationOffice
Indian Express
10-07-2025
- Indian Express
Turkmenistan national overstaying for 7 years held in Pune, asked to leave India
A 26-year-old Turkmenistan national has received a 'Leave India Notice' from the Pune City police as he was found to be overstaying in India for the last seven years and four months. Acting on a tip-off, a team of Foreigners Registration Office (FRO) of Pune City police, led by inspector Arjun Botre and assistant police inspector Harshada Dagade, launched a search for the Turkmenistan national last month. Police found him residing at a house in Shivneri Nagar in Kondhwa. When the police raided the house, they found him hiding in the bathroom. Police nabbed him and checked his documents. A police probe revealed that the Turkmenistan national came to India on a student visa in August 2017. He claimed to have taken admission at the Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU). But after his visa expired in 2018, he continued to stay illegally in India. He was not traceable since then, police said. On June 26, 2025, Deputy Commissioner of Police Milind Mohite of the FRO issued a 'Leave India Notice' to the Turkmenistan national for allegedly overstaying for over seven years. Police said his passport also expired in December 2024. He is in possession of a refugee card issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which is not valid in India. Police said other than overstaying, the Turkmenistan national was not found involved in any criminal cases. Police suspect he was currently earning some money by working with a business of Turkish food items in Pune. Also, police suspect he was getting some financial support from his parents and family members residing in Turkmenistan. Police said he was currently residing in Kondhwa with two other persons from Turkmenistan, who were having valid visas and passports. One of them had legally taken a house on rent in Kondhwa, where the overstaying foreigner had taken shelter. A police officer said there is no facility to detain foreigners held for overstaying. So the Turkmenistan citizen was given a 'Leave India Notice' and police are monitoring him to see if he is following the procedures to get his passport renewed and then go back to his country by flight, which is likely to take a few more days. Police sources said there is a need for 'detention centres', where foreign nationals found to be overstaying and causing violation of visa norms can be held till they are not sent back to their countries. Meanwhile, this year so far, the Pune City police have issued 'Leave India Notices' to about 44 foreign nationals, most of whom are from Yemen and Afghanistan. Since 2011, about 900 foreigners, registered with the FRO of Pune City police, are suspected to be overstaying in India, but are not traceable. Chandan Haygunde is an assistant editor with The Indian Express with 15 + years of experience in covering issues related to Crime, Courts, National Security and Human Rights. He has been associated with The Indian Express since 2007. Chandan has done investigative reporting on incidents of terrorism, left wing extremism, espionage cases, wildlife crimes, narcotics racket, cyber crimes and sensational murder cases in Pune and other parts of Maharashtra. While working on the 'Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Fellowship on Tigers, Tiger Habitats and Conservation' in 2012, he reported extensively on the illegal activities in the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. He has done in-depth reporting on the cases related to the Koregaon Bhima violence in Pune and hearings of the 'Koregaon Bhima Commission of Inquiry'. ... Read More
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Time of India
Uzbek woman rescued from flesh trade at hotel
1 2 Nagpur: In yet another raid that exposed the dark underbelly of human trafficking , Nagpur Police's crime branch social security unit stormed a private hotel on Central Avenue and busted an interstate prostitution racket in the early hours of July 3. The operation, conducted between 5.30pm of July 2 and 1.55am of July 3, led to the rescue of a 24-year-old Uzbek woman ensnared in flesh trade. The woman, who flew down to the city on July 2 morning, possessed a fake Aadhaar card bearing false identity and a lapsed tourist visa. The alleged masterminds, Rashmi Khatri, 49, who earlier worked as manager and later took the establishment on lease a few months ago, and Delhi-based pimp Krishna Kumar alias Radhe Deshraj, were charged with orchestrating the illicit operation. As law does not permit arrest of women after sunset, Khatri was told to present herself before the investigators at Tehsil police station on Thursday. However, she did not comply. A police team visited Khatri's residence at Uppalwadi where she was not found, leading to speculation that she might have gone underground. Police revealed that Deshraj, a key figure in a nationwide trafficking network having international connections, acted as pimp supplying women from economically disadvantaged European countries like Uzbekistan to high-paying clients. These clients, often wealthy and influential, pay anywhere above 5,500 per hour for services, exploiting vulnerable women trapped in the trade. Room charges of the hotels are charged additionally. Khatri, the local operator, facilitated the racket in Nagpur's Central Avenue, allegedly leveraging political connections, though police denied any external influence in the investigation. The rescued Uzbek woman, whose identity remains protected, entered India on a tourist visa in 2024, which expired in May 2025. Shockingly, she possessed a fraudulent Aadhaar card bearing a false name, a tactic used by traffickers to evade detection of foreigners. The rescued woman has been shifted to a govt shelter after her medical examination and recording statement. Police are coordinating with Uzbekistan consulate in Delhi to ensure the victim's safety and repatriation. The hotel management failed to report the Uzbek woman's presence to the Foreigners Registration Office, a lapse now under scrutiny. The police have seized two mobile phones, a DVR, 5,500 cash, and materials worth 39,010. An offence has been registered by the crime branch at Tehsil police station. Senior inspector Shubhangi Deshmukh of Tehsil police station confirmed Khatri's arrest is imminent, while Deshraj faces additional charges for his role in similar rackets. This marks the second instance of vulnerable women from economically weaker European nations being trafficked through Delhi-based networks using fake Aadhaar cards. The operation was led by additional commissioner Vasant Pardeshi, deputy commissioner Rahul Maknikar, and ACP Abhijit Patil, with senior inspectors Gajanan Gulhane, assistant PI Shivaji Nanware, and constables Ashwin Bhange, Sameer Shaikh, Kunal Bodkhe, Poonam Shende, and others.
Indian Express
11-06-2025
- Indian Express
Over 300 undocumented Bangladeshi immigrants flown out of Delhi for deportation in last 3 days
In the last three days, more than 300 illegal Bangladeshi immigrants — in two groups of 161 and 160 each — were detained by the Delhi Police, flown via Hindon airbase to Agartala in Tripura by the Foreigners Registration Office (FRRO), and deported to Bangladesh, said officials. Since November 15 last year, a senior officer at Delhi Police headquarters said, at least 1,230 illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, and 70 foreigners who have overstayed, have been traced, detained, and handed over to the FRRO, which sent them to Agartala. Sharing data of last two visits, an officer said 56 people – 25 children and 14 women from the Northwest district, 40 persons – 15 children and 11 women from the South district, 33 persons – 10 children and 11 women from the Southeast district, and 31 persons – eight children and 10 women from the Northeast district were detained and deported on Monday afternoon. On Wednesday morning, 92 persons – 39 children and 22 women from the Outer district, 41 persons from the South district, and 28 from other districts — were picked up and handed over to the FRRO, who arranged a special flight for them from Hindon air base. 'We have provided them with basic facilities – food, along with water for the flight. We also sent a senior inspector rank along with them, and he, along with the officials of FRRO and intelligence agencies, deported them with the help of the Border Guarding Force,' an official said. On June 8, an officer said, two groups of Bangladeshi nationals were waiting near the railway line, away from the Mangolpuri railway station, for the local train. 'The Outer district Police received information and apprehended 52 persons, including 40 illegal Bangladeshi immigrants,' the officer said. On June 2, 160 persons were deported in a special flight. Of the 160, 43 persons from the Outer district, 26 persons were picked from the Northwest district, 15 from Rohini, 16 from the Shahdara district, and one from the Southwest district. An officer said the Ministry of Home Affairs had directed them late last year to undertake a verification exercise to identify and detain illegal Bangladeshi immigrants and Rohingya. Between November 15, 2024, and April 20 this year, around 220 illegal immigrants and 30 overstaying foreigners were caught by Delhi Police. They were handed over to the FRRO, taken by rail and road to eastern states, and sent to Bangladesh via land borders. However, things changed after the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 that killed 26. 'Now, the MHA is learnt to have asked Delhi Police to intensify detection and deport all illegal immigrants at the earliest. Several makeshift holding centres were built by Delhi Police on rent; they were told to coordinate with the FRRO, and drop the illegal migrants in a special plane to Agartala airport and West Bengal. After touching the detection figure of 160 illegal migrants, they requested the FRRO to arrange a special flight for them,' the officer said. Mahender Singh Manral is an Assistant Editor with the national bureau of The Indian Express. He is known for his impactful and breaking stories. He covers the Ministry of Home Affairs, Investigative Agencies, National Investigative Agency, Central Bureau of Investigation, Law Enforcement Agencies, Paramilitary Forces, and internal security. Prior to this, Manral had extensively reported on city-based crime stories along with that he also covered the anti-corruption branch of the Delhi government for a decade. He is known for his knack for News and a detailed understanding of stories. He also worked with Mail Today as a senior correspondent for eleven months. He has also worked with The Pioneer for two years where he was exclusively covering crime beat. During his initial days of the career he also worked with The Statesman newspaper in the national capital, where he was entrusted with beats like crime, education, and the Delhi Jal Board. A graduate in Mass Communication, Manral is always in search of stories that impact lives. ... Read More
Indian Express
05-06-2025
- Indian Express
Nigerian woman held for overstay; homeowner of rented flat, real estate agent booked
Pune city police have booked the owner of an apartment in Kondhwa along with a real estate agent for allegedly failing to submit the information of a Nigerian woman residing illegally at the spot on rental basis. Meanwhile, the Foreigners Registration Office (FRO) of Pune city police has also initiated action against a Nigerian woman, as she was allegedly found to be overstaying in India even after her visa period expired. DCP (zone 5) Rajkumar Shinde said that the FRO got information about an overstaying Nigerian woman residing in an apartment behind Ajmera Hotel in Kondhwa. The FRO passed on the information to the Kondhwa police station. A police team then questioned the owner of the apartment about the Nigerian tenant. The homeowner told the police that he rented his apartment to the foreigner woman through a real estate agent Adnan Bohra (29) of Bhagyoday Nagar in Kondhwa, stated a press release issued on Thursday. Further probe revealed that no rent agreement was prepared and the mandatory police verification procedure was not followed while giving the apartment on rent to the Nigerian woman. Also, police said as per the norms, the homeowner and real estate agent were supposed to submit the C-form, carrying details of the said foreign national, while renting an apartment to her. For causing violation of this norm, an offence has been registered against the house owner and real estate agent as per section 223 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 3 (5) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), at the Kondhwa police station on Wednesday. Senior police inspector Vinay Patankar said that further investigation is on.
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Time of India
Pakistani man convicted for hiding nationality to acquire Indian passport
Pune: The court of Additional Sessions Judge S R Salunkhe on Tuesday convicted a Pakistani national, Muhammad Amar Ansari, under the provisions of the Indian Passport Act for suppressing information about his nationality to secure an Indian Salunkhe converted two years and two months served by Ansari in as his sentence but acquitted him of charges of cheating and forgery, citing lack of evidence."Ansari Tired of too many ads? go ad free now would be deported to Pakistan within 15 days. Till then, he would be allowed to stay at the residence of his parents' guest, but he will have to give attendance at Khadak police station till the deportation process is completed," DCP (special branch) and head of foreigners' registration office Milind Mohite state's case was that Ansari was found in possession of three Pakistani passports, an Indian passport, and other forged documents and he was illegally staying in the country without a valid visa between August 13, 2015, and March 14, 2023. He was arrested on March 15, lawyer, Zaheer Pathan, told TOI, "My client deposited a fine of Rs 10,000 as per the court order. He was released from jail on Wednesday evening, but he was taken into custody by the Khadak police for the purpose of recording his statement."Khadak police's senior inspector, Shashikant Chavan, said, "We would produce the accused before the Foreigners Registration Office and submit a report to initiate the process to deport him to Pakistan."The court has allowed the accused to retain the Pakistani passports and ordered the competent authorities to confiscate his Aadhar card and PAN card. The accused was directed to execute a personal bond and surety bond of Rs 30,000 within eight days of his Public Prosecutor Anil Kumbhar relied on the testimonies of six witnesses to show that the accused suppressed information about his birth and nationality for securing an Indian passport and travelled to Salunkhe, in his 40-page judgment, said, "The Aadhar card, PAN card, college leaving certificate, and Indian passport issued to the accused are genuine. Therefore, there was no reason for the accused to have any dishonest or fraudulent intention to use them or make others believe that they are genuine documents. The accused did not commit offences of cheating and forgery of the documents. He used the same for bona fide purposes."The judge opined that it was clear from the record that the visa of accused expired and he applied for a long-term visa, which was pending consideration. Unless the decision on his application is taken by the competent authority, it cannot be said that his stay in India is illegal. There are no allegations that the accused breached the visa the expiry of his grandmother, the accused applied for an Indian passport to meet his brother in the UAE. He mentioned his birthplace as Pune and citizenship of India by birth. He used the Aadhar card and PAN card as proof. This amounts to suppressing information about his nationality within the meaning under section 12 (1A) (a) of the Passport Act, the judge said, adding that the prosecution proved its case under the Act but did not prove other offences against the accused.
