Mumbai: In a major breakthrough in the case involving an attack on actor Saif Ali Khan, Mumbai Police have uncovered a human trafficking network that facilitated the entry of the accused, Shariful Islam Shahzad, into India. Investigations reveal that Shahzad illegally crossed the India-Bangladesh border with the help of a network of agents who specialize in smuggling people across borders.
According to police sources, Shahzad crossed the border through the Dawki River in Meghalaya with the help of a Bangladeshi agent, paying ₹4,000 for the service. Upon entering India, a second agent arranged for his bus journey to Kolkata in exchange for ₹3,000.
Once in Kolkata, a third agent provided accommodation and procured a SIM card using fake documents. This same agent facilitated his travel to Mumbai in May 2024. After arriving in Mumbai, Shahzad met a fourth agent who introduced him to labor contractor Amit Pandey, charging a commission of ₹1,500. In total, Shahzad paid ₹11,000 to various agents.
Mumbai Police are now tracking the four agents involved in this smuggling operation, suspecting their involvement in a larger racket facilitating illegal immigration from Bangladesh. Sources revealed that Shahzad was frustrated with his low earnings in Mumbai. Despite working in Worli and Thane, he earned only ₹13,000-14,000 per month. Struggling to return to Bangladesh, he contacted traffickers again, but they demanded ₹60,000 for the journey. In desperation, he attempted to rob Saif Ali Khan’s residence to raise the money, leading to his arrest.
