Over the past three years, the Mumbai Police have arrested at least 1,758 Bangladeshi nationals living illegally in the city. Out of these, 1,238 have already been deported, while the remaining individuals are in the process of being sent back to Bangladesh.
Between January 1 and February 20, 2026, 113 Bangladeshi nationals were apprehended. Of these, 27 have already been deported. The rest are currently undergoing deportation procedures. Once the court decisions are issued, the remaining individuals will be deported as per the rulings.
In 2025, police registered 150 cases involving 224 suspects of illegal residency. They were deported after police action, but the cases are still under court review. In 2024, a total of 156 Bangladeshi nationals were deported out of the 165 cases filed.
The crackdown coincides with national security actions in India, where eight men were recently detained on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack. Reports indicate possible links to Bangladesh and Pakistan’s ISI.
Several of the detainees are Bangladeshi nationals. Two individuals had been previously arrested in follow-up investigations, while six suspects from Tamil Nadu were also taken into custody. These included three from Palladam, one from Thirumuruganpoondi, and two from Uthukuli.
Mumbai Police also arrested a 46-year-old Bangladeshi woman who had been deported six months ago after being found in Mira-Bhayandar. She was later traced to Vile Parle. During questioning, she admitted that she had returned to Mumbai, reportedly after living in the city for nearly 25 years.
Additionally, two Bangladeshi women, Bilkis Begum Sirmiya Akhtar, 30, and Zulekha Jamal Sheikh, 38, were arrested in separate raids in South Mumbai last month. Both had been previously detained in August of the previous year and are suspected of returning illegally again after deportation.
The Mumbai Police have made it clear that operations against illegal residents will continue, and repeat offenders will face strict action in line with the law.