ED searches premises of 11 Bangladeshi nationals, living with fake identity in Bengal

New Delhi: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED)has carried out search operations at 11 premises linked to Bangladesh nationals namely Proshanta Kumar Halder, Pritish Kumar Halder, and their associates across the state of West Bengal. Proshanta Kumar Halder has been nabbed along with his 5 other associates during these searches. Proshanta Kumar Halder was found in the disguised identity of an Indian Citizen as Shibshankar Halder. During searches, it was revealed that he along with his other associates fraudulently obtained various government identities like Ration Card from the State of West Bengal, Indian Voter ID card, PAN, and Aadhar card.

ED has ascertained that these Bangladesh nationals have also managed to float companies in India on the basis of fraudulently obtained identities and have even purchased properties in West Bengal.

It has been further revealed that the subject case is an offense of Cross Border Implication under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, as Proshanta Kumar Halder has been found to be accused in approximately 10000 Crore Bangladesh TakaBank fraud in Bangladesh and alleged to have siphoned off money outside Bangladesh to various countries. Besides Bangladesh and Indian passports, he was also found in possession of a Grenada Passport. It has also been learned that Interpol has issued Red Corner Notice (RCN) against Proshanta Kumar Halder.

ED has arrested all 6 persons including mastermind Proshanta Kumar Halder alias Shibashankar Halder under PMLA,2002. The details of the arrested persons are as follows:

• Proshanta Kumar Halder alias Prashanta Halder alias Shib Shankar Halder;
• Swapan Maitra alias Swapan Mistry;
• Uttam Maitra alias Uttam Mistry;
• Imam Hossian alias Imon Halder;
• Amana Sultana alias Sharmee Halder and
• Pranesh Kumar Halder.

All the arrested persons were produced before the Ld. Special Court (PMLA) remanded 5 of the accused persons to the enforcement custody and 1 accused to judicial custody.

Further investigation is in progress.