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Mumbai Police have arrested a Bangladeshi transgender woman who had allegedly been living in India for nearly three decades using forged identity documents, reports NDTV.
The suspect, identified as Babu Ayan Khan, alias Jyoti or “Guru Maa”, was arrested on Thursday.
She is accused of trafficking more than 200 Bangladeshi nationals into India, a figure authorities believe could increase as the investigation progresses.
According to NDTV, Guru Maa had established herself as a spiritual leader for members of the transgender community in Mumbai, reportedly attracting around 300 followers across different neighbourhoods.
Investigators said she managed to obtain falsified Indian documents, including a birth certificate, Aadhar card, and PAN card, to pose as an Indian citizen. Her deception came to light during a recent verification process, leading to her arrest.
Authorities allege that her network trafficked Bangladeshi nationals into India through the Murshidabad border in West Bengal.
Once inside India, the trafficked individuals were temporarily housed in Kolkata, where fake birth certificates and educational certificates were arranged for them.
Afterwards, they were transported to Mumbai and settled in Shivaji Nagar. Each room reportedly accommodated three to four people, who were required to pay her a monthly rent ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000.
The police found that Guru Maa had also been involved in the illegal occupation of flats and huts under the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA). Over 200 such properties were allegedly rented out, earning her a substantial income.
NDTV claimed that Guru Maa coerced some illegal immigrants into sex work, deploying them to different highways across the state.