Chennai’s Central Crime Branch (CCB) has arrested two Bangladeshi nationals who were working at a biryani shop in the Thousand Lights area after they allegedly used forged documents to obtain Indian passports and conceal their true identities. The accused have been identified as Mohammad Harun Mai (44) and his relative Waliullah Khan (also known as Babul Hussain). Both have been remanded to judicial custody following court proceedings.
The breakthrough came on March 6 when officials from the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) at Chennai International Airport intercepted Mohammad Harun Mai. He was attempting to board a flight to Bangladesh using an Indian passport acquired fraudulently by hiding his Bangladeshi citizenship. Discrepancies in his documents prompted his transfer to the CCB’s Fake Passport Investigation Unit, where a case was formally registered.
Interrogation revealed that Mai had first entered India illegally in 1999 by crossing the border near Shahpur village in Tripura’s Srimantapur area. He made several unauthorized trips between 1999 and 2008 for work. In 2022, he entered legally on a Bangladeshi passport but overstayed his visa. Settling in Chennai, he found employment at biryani shops, eventually managing one in the Thousand Lights locality.
To blend in, Mai fraudulently obtained an Aadhaar card and PAN card by concealing his foreign origins. These were then used to secure an Indian passport. His attempt to use the forged passport for travel back to Bangladesh led to his arrest. He was produced before a magistrate court on Friday and remanded to judicial custody.
Further investigation based on Mai’s disclosures led to the arrest of Waliullah Khan on Friday. Khan had illegally entered India through the Tripura border in 2025. Mai arranged his travel to Chennai by train, provided him a job at the same biryani shop, and shared accommodation with him. Khan adopted the alias Babul Hussain, obtained a fake Aadhaar card, and continued operating under a false identity. He was presented in court on Saturday and also remanded to judicial custody.
Chennai Police have issued an advisory to the public, cautioning against using unauthorized agents for passport and visa processes. They urged citizens to apply directly through official channels like the Regional Passport Office or relevant consulates with genuine documents to avoid falling prey to forgery networks.
TWO BANGLADESHI NATIONALS EMPLOYED AT A BRIYANI SHOP IN THOUSAND LIGHTS, ARRESTED
The Central Crime Branch arrested two Bangladeshi nationals for obtaining Indian passports using forged documents and attempting to travel to Bangladesh. Both accused were remanded to judicial… pic.twitter.com/kOLdFBqjyW
— A Selvaraj (@Crime_Selvaraj) March 7, 2026
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