Thane: The Thane Sessions Court has convicted five Bangladeshi national women for illegally residing in India, thereby sentencing them to one year of rigorous imprisonment. In addition to the jail term, the court has directed each of them to pay a fine of Rs 1,000. Upon completion of the sentence, the Commissioner of Thane Police has been instructed to deport the five women to Bangladesh through the Bangladesh Embassy.
The convicts—Sabina Husain (20), Tauhmina Mandal (19), Onmika Mandal (38), Shibali Khan (29), and Maharufa Mandel—were arrested in 2023 during a raid conducted by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) following a tip-off. The accused were found living in a rented house in Mira Road without valid identification or nationality documents.
According to the prosecution, the ATS, during the raid, demanded identification from the accused, who failed to present any documents proving Indian nationality. Police Constable Sunil Nawalsingh Thakur, who was part of the raiding team, stated that the accused could not offer a satisfactory explanation regarding their residence in India or produce proof of citizenship. Thakur subsequently lodged the official complaint, and the FIR was registered.
The court, while delivering the verdict, cited Section 9 of the Foreigners Act, 1946, stating that the burden of proof lies on the accused to establish that they are not foreign nationals.
“No evidence was presented by the accused to prove their Indian citizenship. It is duly proved beyond reasonable doubt that they are foreigners and were residing in India without any valid passport or visa. Therefore, they are punishable under Section 14 of the Foreigners Act,” the court observed.
Harishchandra Mhatre, the owner of the house where the accused were staying, testified before the court that his parents had rented the upper floor to the individuals, though were unaware of their legal status. It was only after the police inquiry was initiated against the five women in 2023 that the truth came to light.
