MD BADAL HOULADAR Vs. NATIONAL INVESTIGATION AGENCY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This criminal appeal is preferred by accused no.10 under Sec. 21(4) of the National Investigation Agency, 2008 (for short "NIA") seeking to set aside the impugned order passed by the XLIX Addl. City Civil and Sessions Judge (Special Court for trial of NIA cases), CCH-50 at Bengaluru in Crl.Misc.No.6560/2024 dtd. 1/8/2024 and enlarge the appellant on bail in Crime RC-1/2023/NIA/BLR of the offences punishable under Sec. 120B and 370 (3) of IPC and Ss. 14, 14A(b) and 14C of Foreigners Act and Sec. 3 of Passport Act r/w Rule 6 of the Passport (Entry in India) Rules, 1950 pending trial before the Special Court for trial of NIA cases.

(2.) The Central Government on receiving reliable information that certain entities based in Karnataka are involved in trafficking of persons of Bangladesh and Rohingya of Myanmar origin to India on the strength of forged Indian identity documents, the National Investigation Agency registered a case on an order issued by the Government of India in RC-No:1/2023/NIA/BLR at NIA police station on 7/11/2023.

(3.) The investigation / searches were conducted at locations of the accused persons in which various Indian identity documents were seized, investigation revealed that 22 Bangladesh Nationals were illegally trafficking into India and submitted charge sheet against the appellant and other accused persons for the offences stated supra. The appellant/accused No.10 is alleged to have illegally entered India without valid documents around 15 years ago, worked as a garbage segregator and started his own garbage collection Godown in Chikkabanavara area in Bengaluru and he fraudulently obtained Indian Identity cards, such as PAN card and Aadhar card.