A 32-year-old Bangladeshi national, who claimed to be a Buddhist monk, was arrested at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport for trying to travel to Rome using a fake Indian passport. The individual, identified as Bipon Anil Barua from Bandarban, Bangladesh, was apprehended on Wednesday night.
Barua intended to fly to Rome via Muscat from Mumbai early on Thursday. However, during the passport check, an immigration officer discovered an active Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against Barua by the Foreigners Registration Office (FRRO) in Mumbai. The LOC prevented him from leaving the country.
The detection of the LOC raised suspicions about Barua’s activities. Further investigation revealed that he had obtained the Indian passport using forged documents. This raised concerns about potential illegal activities or motives for his Rome trip.
The airport authorities and immigration officers’ vigilance led to the discovery of Barua’s fraudulent passport. It highlights the importance of robust document verification protocols to maintain travel process integrity and prevent identity misuse.
Authorities will continue investigations to determine Barua’s true intentions and any potential links to criminal activities. He will face legal consequences for passport fraud and attempting to travel with fraudulent documents.