RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh police have booked a 33-year-old woman, who hails from Bangladesh, for illegally residing in India for last 14 years in Durg city of Chhattisgarh. She came to India on a visit visa of 15 days on January 2, 2006 to meet her relatives in Durg city and overstayed.

In fact, she got married in 2009 in Durg city. Police have lodged a case under section 420 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and section 12 (A) of the Passports Act, 1967. Further investigation into the case is underway. The accused woman is still at large after FIR has been lodged against her.

Durg senior superintendent of police (SSP) Ajay Kumar Yadav told TOI on Monday that police lodged an FIR against the accused woman, identified as Shabina Naaz alias Mukta, 33, possessing a passport of Bangladesh and illegally living in India and possessing an Indian passport. Investigation into the case is underway. He said the woman hails from New Bazaar Rangpur District Saidarpur, Bangladesh. On January 2, 2006, Shabina came to India on a 15-day visa. After coming to India, the accused woman, went to her uncle's house in Kasaridih locality of Durg city of Chhattisgarh. After the expiry of visa, Shabina neither informed the Regional Passport Office nor in any police station in Durg district. The accused woman secretly resided in the city for nearly 14 years, the SSP added.

Meanwhile, Shabina got married and had children too. After the children grew up, Shabina's husband planned to visit Bangkok in 2019. For this, Shabina's husband applied for a passport at the Regional Passport Office in the state capital

which was issued to him and Shabina, SSP added.

The immigration authorities at Kolkata Airport suspected her and on questioning, she revealed that she was a Bangladeshi citizen. She admitted that she managed to get an Indian passport too. After which the Government of India Ministry of External Affairs wrote a letter on May 13, 2019 to the Regional Passport Office Raipur and ordered inquiry.

On August, 2019, the regional passport office wrote Durg SP regarding the of investigation for re-verification of nationality of the accused woman.

Police investigation revealed that the accused woman Shabina also managed to get an Indian passport through bogus voter ID card, while holding a Bangladeshi passport.

After investigation, police registered offenses against Shabina under Section 420 of IPC and section 12 (A) of Passport Act, 1967.