Bangladeshi Model Arrested in Kolkata for Illegal Stay

A High-Profile Arrest Sparks Border Security Debate in Bengal

Kolkata, August 1, 2025 — In a dramatic twist to a routine police verification drive in the city’s Tiljala area, Kolkata Police arrested a Bangladeshi national — a model by profession — for allegedly residing in India without valid documentation. The incident has brought renewed focus on border security, identity fraud, and cross-border illegal networks operating within West Bengal.

Who is the Accused?

The woman, reportedly in her early 30s, was living in a rented apartment in East Kolkata under a false identity. She presented herself as an Indian citizen using forged Aadhaar and voter ID cards. According to police sources, she had been active in the modeling and influencer circuit and frequently posted fashion content on social media platforms.

Her social media following and lifestyle suggested no suspicion — until neighbors tipped off local authorities about irregularities in her documents.

How Did She Enter India?

Preliminary investigations indicate that the woman entered India illegally through the porous India-Bangladesh border, possibly near the North 24 Parganas district. Border Security Force (BSF) officials suspect she was aided by human traffickers who specialize in smuggling individuals across the international border undetected.

Authorities believe she arrived with the assistance of a well-organized network that helps Bangladeshi nationals illegally settle in Indian cities with fake identities.

What Was She Doing in Kolkata?

Living under an assumed name, the accused had integrated into the local fashion industry. She participated in small-scale modeling gigs, promotional shoots, and appeared at lifestyle events. Investigators say she maintained a low profile otherwise, avoiding interaction with locals and official institutions as much as possible.

Her online presence, however, painted a picture of glamour and influence, which made it easier for her to mask her real identity and maintain a fabricated public persona.

Forgery and Identity Theft

During the arrest, police recovered forged Indian documents including:

• Aadhaar card
• PAN card
• Voter ID
• Indian mobile SIM cards registered under fake credentials

A laptop, two smartphones, and multiple SD cards were also seized. These devices are now being analyzed by the cybercrime cell for any links to international data fraud, espionage, or larger criminal networks.

Possible Connections to Larger Networks

Investigators haven’t ruled out the possibility of her being part of a wider syndicate. The interrogation has revealed names of multiple individuals suspected of aiding her entry and stay in India. Sources say some names are linked to earlier cases of human trafficking, illegal immigration, and even economic espionage.

Police Statement and Ongoing Investigation

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Eastern Division), Mr. Sujit Kumar Roy, stated: This case is not just about one individual. We are examining a possible cross-border network facilitating illegal entries and aiding such individuals to obtain Indian identity documents. It’s a matter of national security, and all angles are being probed.

Police have also initiated a probe into the landlord who rented the apartment to her without proper tenant verification — a violation under the West Bengal Tenancy Control Act.

BSF and Intelligence on Alert

The incident has prompted security agencies, including BSF and IB (Intelligence Bureau), to revisit surveillance around the Indo-Bangladesh border. West Bengal shares a 2,216 km-long international boundary with Bangladesh, much of which is difficult to monitor due to riverine and densely populated zones.

Security experts are now calling for stricter enforcement of tenant verification norms and digital tracking of identity documents issued in border districts.