According to the agency, the investigation centres on an alleged organised network that is suspected to have facilitated illegal entry into India, arranged forged identity documents and channelled funds to help the alleged infiltrators settle in different parts of the country.
Searches conducted across Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana and West Bengal
Officials said the ED's Lucknow Zonal Office conducted coordinated searches at 13 premises in Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh, Jamia Nagar in Delhi, Ballabhgarh in Haryana, and the West Bengal districts of South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas and Murshidabad.
The searches form part of a money laundering investigation registered by the agency in 2024.
Probe linked to Uttar Pradesh ATS FIR
According to officials, the ED case is based on a First Information Report (FIR) registered by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), which alleged that an organised syndicate was involved in facilitating the illegal infiltration of Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingyas into India.
The FIR also alleged that the network arranged forged Indian identity documents, including Aadhaar cards, PAN cards and passports, and assisted the alleged infiltrators in settling across different regions of the country.
ED examines foreign funding
According to officials, investigators are examining the role of certain public charitable trusts registered under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).
The ED alleged that the ATS investigation uncovered a "deep-rooted" financial network in which substantial foreign contributions were routed through multiple bank accounts, mule accounts and layered financial transactions before allegedly being diverted to facilitate the activities under investigation.
The agency alleges that funds were used to support the settlement of illegal immigrants
According to the ED, investigators suspect that money was transferred to alleged beneficiaries in small instalments of Rs 6,000, Rs 8,000 and Rs 10,000 as part of efforts to help them establish themselves in India.
The agency claimed that the funds were allegedly used for the economic rehabilitation of illegal immigrants, enabling them to settle permanently in different parts of the country.
Officials further alleged that one network operating in border districts of West Bengal facilitated the illegal entry of Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingyas into India, while another network arranged forged identity documents before sending them to different states for employment or other purposes.
According to the ED, the charitable trust under investigation is also suspected of providing financial assistance and alternative livelihood support, including e-rickshaws, employment opportunities and direct cash assistance, to help the alleged infiltrators establish themselves in India.