PassportRacket – Five More Afghans Arrested in Kolkata Crackdown
PassportRacket – Five Afghan nationals were detained in Kolkata as part of an expanding investigation into an alleged fake passport network first uncovered by the Anti-Terrorism Squad of Madhya Pradesh Police in August 2025. Officials said the arrests mark a significant development in a case that has steadily widened across several states.
Arrests Carried Out in Central Kolkata
The latest operation was conducted in areas falling under the Beniapukur and Bhowanipore police station limits in Kolkata. The five men taken into custody were identified as Raza Khan, 28, Ziyaul Rahman, 30, Sultan Mohammad, 27, Syed Mohammad, 35, and Zafar Khan, 23.
Investigators said the accused had been living in the city for several years. Authorities allege they were using forged Indian passports that listed them as residents of Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh.
Following their arrest, the men were presented before courts in Alipore and Sealdah. The courts granted transit remand, allowing officers to take them to Jabalpur for further questioning. A court there subsequently placed them in police custody as the probe continued.
Total Arrests Rise to Eleven
With the addition of the five recent arrests, the number of individuals detained in the case has increased to 11. Of these, eight are Afghan nationals accused of staying in India on documents obtained through the suspected inter-state passport racket.
Investigators believe that the operation may have benefited at least 30 Afghan nationals, many of whom are believed to be residing in eastern India. Preliminary findings indicate that several of them may have established documentation links to Jabalpur district.
Case First Surfaced in August 2025
The investigation began in August 2025 when the Anti-Terrorism Squad arrested six individuals, including the alleged mastermind, Sohbat Khan. Authorities said Khan, an Afghan national, had been living in Jabalpur for nearly a decade without valid authorization. He had also married a local woman during his stay.
At the time, two other Afghan nationals, identified as Akbar and Iqbal, were apprehended from West Bengal. Police alleged they were also residing in India using forged passports obtained through the same network.
Local Links in Jabalpur
Three residents of Jabalpur were arrested earlier for their suspected roles in facilitating documentation. Among them was Dinesh Garg, a forest guard associated with the district collectorate’s election cell. The other two were Chandan Thakur, who claimed to be an advocate, and Mahendra Kumar Sukhdan.
Investigators allege that forged birth certificates and fabricated address proofs were arranged locally to help create a chain of identity documents. According to officials, Sohbat Khan first secured a driving licence in 2015 using falsified records. He later obtained Aadhaar, PAN, and voter identification documents before acquiring an Indian passport in 2020.
Authorities claim the same method was extended to other Afghan nationals living in West Bengal and Chhattisgarh. Each passport was allegedly arranged for a fee ranging between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 1.20 lakh.
Maharashtra Connection Under Scrutiny
The probe has also uncovered possible links to Akola in eastern Maharashtra. Investigators describe Akola as a potential meeting point where Afghan nationals allegedly connected with intermediaries involved in the racket.
During questioning, Sohbat Khan reportedly informed officers that a place of worship in Akola district served as a gathering location for Afghans residing in different parts of India. It was there, investigators believe, that he established contact with Akbar and Iqbal before facilitating their documentation.
Investigation Continues
Officials have emphasized that the inquiry remains ongoing. Authorities are examining financial transactions, document trails, and communication records to determine the full scope of the network. Further arrests have not been ruled out as teams continue to track individuals suspected of benefiting from forged Indian passports.
The Anti-Terrorism Squad has indicated that coordination between multiple state agencies will remain crucial as the investigation advances.