14-month jail for three Bangladeshi nationals in illegal stay case in Maharashtra

A Thane court has sentenced three Bangladeshi nationals to 14 months in jail for illegally staying in India , while also directing authorities to deport them after completion of their sentence. The conviction came after the accused voluntarily pleaded guilty before the court.

The judgment was delivered on April 1 by Additional Sessions Judge R.S. Bhakare , who held the trio guilty under the Passport (Entry into India) Rules, 1950 . However, the court discharged them from charges under the Foreigners Act, stating that the prosecution failed to establish the conditions required to apply the law.

The three accused were identified as Jahid Aainal Khan (23), Sapna Madan Sikdar (31), and Juithi Jahangir Dhali (25). According to officials, they were found illegally staying in the country without valid travel documents.

Police had detained the trio on February 28 last year near Uttarshiv Naka on the Mumbra-Panvel Road in Thane district during a routine check. Following their arrest, a case was registered under relevant provisions related to illegal entry and stay in India .

During the trial, the accused admitted to the charges and pleaded guilty , following which the court convicted them under the passport rules governing entry into the country.

While reviewing the case, the court also examined the applicability of Section 14A of the Foreigners Act , which deals with violations related to restricted or notified areas. The judge noted that the prosecution failed to produce any evidence proving that the location where the accused were found was a notified restricted area .

“There is no material on record to show that the place where the accused were found is a notified restricted area . Hence, the charge under Section 14A of the Foreigners Act is not made out ,” the court observed in its order.

The court finally directed that the three individuals should serve the 14-month prison sentence, after which authorities must complete the deportation process and send them back to Bangladesh in accordance with immigration laws.