Kolkata, India – The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted a raid on Monday at the residence of a carpenter in Chakdaha, located in the Nadia district of West Bengal. The action is connected to an ongoing investigation into a fake passport case.

The probe is reportedly linked to a Pakistani national who was arrested earlier in the year. According to sources, the carpenter's name surfaced following the arrest of a middleman allegedly involved in the racket. Family members of the carpenter are also under scrutiny as part of the investigation.

The ED's investigation is focused on the money laundering aspect of a major fake Indian passport racket operating in West Bengal. The agency is working to uncover the network involved in providing forged documents and passports to illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in India.

In April 2025, ED officials conducted raids and search operations in Chakdaha, Nadia district, in connection to this case. These earlier operations targeted individuals associated with Alok Nath and Azad Mullick, identified as key figures in the racket. Mullick, a Bangladeshi resident, was arrested for possessing fake Indian identity documents, including an Indian passport, and operating a hawala racket from his Kolkata residence. ED investigations revealed that Mullick had transferred ₹2.62 crore from India to Bangladesh via illegal channels.

Last month, the Kolkata Police filed a charge sheet in a lower court concerning the fake passport scam, identifying 130 individuals, with 120 being Bangladeshi residents and the remainder Indian nationals. The Bangladeshi nationals are accused of paying substantial sums to acquire fake Indian passports. Indian nationals are alleged to have facilitated the acquisition of fake documents, including passports, for these infiltrators. Abdul Hai, a retired Assistant Sub-Inspector, was previously arrested for his involvement in providing police verification clearances in exchange for financial gain.

The ED's ongoing investigation aims to dismantle the network facilitating illegal immigration through fraudulent documentation. The raid on the carpenter's residence is a significant step in tracing the links between local individuals and the larger international racket. Further details are awaited as the investigation progresses.