In a major operation, the Mumbai Police Crime Branch has arrested six Afghan nationals for illegally residing in India using fake Indian identities, officials confirmed on Monday.
Acting on a tip-off, coordinated raids were conducted in Colaba and Dharavi on Sunday, resulting in the arrests.
The accused have been identified as Abdul Samad Haji Ahmed Zai Nauroji (47) from Kandahar, Mohammed Rasol Kamaluddin Khaksar (24), Zia Ul Haq Ahmadi (36), Asad Khan Tara Kai (36), and Mohammed Ibrahim Gazanavi (36) from Kabul, and Amil Ullah (48) from Zabul province.
According to police, the six men had entered India between 2015 and 2019 on medical visas and initially landed in Delhi. After their visas expired, they settled in Mumbai—living in Fort, Colaba, and Dharavi—where they allegedly obtained fake voter cards and address proofs to conceal their real identities.
Following weeks of technical surveillance and intelligence gathering, the Crime Branch traced and apprehended the suspects. “They had been living under fake names and holding forged documents. Their real identities were later verified through background checks,” said an investigating officer.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine how the fake documents were acquired and whether a larger network is involved. Deportation proceedings have been initiated, and the men will be sent back to Afghanistan following due legal process.
