ED on Illegal Identity Documents & Hawala Network: Supplementary Prosecution Complaint Filed Against Accused Involving Pakistani National.

Headnote:

The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Kolkata Zonal Office, filed its first Supplementary Prosecution Complaint under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 against Indubhushan Haldar @ Dulal and four others in a case involving Ajad Mallik @ Ahammed Hossain Azad @ Azad Hossain, a Pakistani national residing in India under an assumed identity. The investigation revealed a large-scale racket involving fraudulent procurement of Indian identity documents, illegal passport issuance, hawala-based cross-border remittances, and laundering of illicit funds exceeding ₹80 crore.

Background:

• The ED initiated investigation based on an FIR registered by West Bengal Police against Ajad Mallik @ Ahammed Hossain Azad @ Azad Hossain.

• Investigation revealed that Azad Hossain, a Pakistani national, was residing in India under the assumed identity of Ajad Mallik, son of Mona Mallik.

• In connivance with Indubhushan Haldar @ Dulal, the accused was involved in fraudulently obtaining Indian identity documents such as Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, and passports for illegal immigrants from Bangladesh in exchange for money.

• Ajad Mallik @ Azad Hossain was arrested on 15.04.2025, while Indubhushan Haldar @ Dulal was arrested on 13.10.2025. Both are presently in judicial custody.

ED’s Observations & Findings:

• Searches conducted at premises linked with Ajad Mallik led to seizure of incriminating documents and records.

• The investigation established that Azad Hossain procured multiple Indian identity documents using forged information with the assistance of accomplices.

• The accused operated a hawala network facilitating illegal cross-border remittances between India and Bangladesh by collecting payments in cash and UPI and transferring equivalent amounts through platforms such as bKash.

• Azad Hossain, through Indubhushan Haldar, fraudulently renewed his Indian passport and referred approximately 300–400 Bangladeshi clients for illegal procurement of Indian passports, charging around ₹50,000 per applicant.

• In at least 29 passport applications, identical forged Income Tax Returns and payment slips were submitted without mandatory Income Tax Department stamps, clearly indicating fabrication.

• Several passport applications contained glaring discrepancies, including biologically implausible dates of birth among siblings, and one instance where an applicant was found holding a Bangladeshi National ID card identifying him as a resident of Dhaka.

Involvement of Forex Entity

• ED investigation revealed that M/s Goldenize Forex & Travels Pvt. Ltd., a licensed Full-Fledged Money Changer (FFMC), and its Directors violated RBI guidelines by allowing Azad Hossain, a Pakistani national, to operate the forex counter.

• The company illegally sold foreign exchange in the domestic market without proper documentation and maintained false records by showing fake sales in the names of individuals without their knowledge or consent.

• The Directors systematically misused the company to launder illicit funds exceeding ₹80 crore by routing forged transactions through company bank accounts.

Procedural History

• A Prosecution Complaint under Section 44 read with Section 45 of the PMLA was earlier filed against Azad Hossain @ Ajad Mallik on 13.06.2025.

• Cognizance of the complaint was taken by the Ld. Chief Judge, City Sessions Court (PMLA) on 19.06.2025.

• The first Supplementary Prosecution Complaint was filed on 11.12.2025, upon which the Special Court, Kolkata, issued notices to the accused persons.

Legal Provisions Discussed:

• Sections 44 & 45, Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 – Prosecution and trial of money laundering offences.

• Offences relating to forged identity documents and illegal passport issuance.

• RBI regulations governing Full-Fledged Money Changers (FFMCs).

• Hawala transactions and cross-border money laundering mechanisms.