Gujarat SMC nabs Interpol Red Notice accused from Hyderabad in illegal immigration case

In a breakthrough in a long-running human trafficking case, the Gujarat State Monitoring Cell (SMC) arrested a key absconding accused from Hyderabad late on April 20. The accused, Zakir alias Rajubhai alias Sameer Karim Sait, had been evading arrest for over six years and was allegedly a central figure in a major racket that facilitated illegal immigration to the United States through forged documents and fake passports.

The case, registered under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita alongside the Indian Passport Act, pertains to a criminal conspiracy in which several individuals colluded to create forged documents for clients aspiring to illegally enter the United States. The accused allegedly posed as agents, forged passports, and arranged visas for European countries as transit points, eventually sending people to the US via the Mexico border.

Zakir Sait, a resident of Mumbai, is said to be a close associate of the main accused, Bharat alias Bobby Rambhai Patel. A Look Out Circular had been issued against Sait based on two Indian passports in his name, and Interpol had issued a Red Corner Notice.

Based on inputs from technical surveillance and human intelligence sources, Sait was traced to Flat No 1201, Block-A, Jaibhari The Summit Residency, Nana Karamguda Service Road, Narsinghi, Hyderabad. He was apprehended and brought to the SMC office in Gandhinagar around 11.30 pm on April 20.

During interrogation, Sait reportedly confessed to being an active partner in the network, primarily operating from Delhi. He is believed to have coordinated the creation of forged documents and facilitated travel routes from Ahmedabad to Delhi and onward to European countries. From there, clients were smuggled into the United States via the Mexico border.

After the case was initially registered, Sait is said to have fled from Mumbai to Paris, returned briefly, then left again for Europe, eventually reaching Dubai and then Nepal before finally taking refuge in Hyderabad.

Authorities recovered a mobile phone, ₹5,000 in cash, and an ID card during the arrest. Sait is also a wanted accused in a similar case registered at the Delhi IGI Airport Police Station.

So far, 11 individuals have been arrested in connection with this case, including the prime accused, Bharat Patel. Three of the accused are currently in judicial custody, and a chargesheet has been filed. Investigations are ongoing to unearth further evidence and possible accomplices.