Thane: A sessions court in Thane convicted a Bangladeshi national for illegally staying in India after the expiry of her visa and sentenced her to 1 year of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 1,000. The court also directed that she be deported to Bangladesh after completing the jail term, granting set-off for the period already spent in custody.The case dates back to Jan 2025, when Kalwa police received specific intelligence inputs about a foreign national residing in the area without valid travel documents. Acting on the information, police traced the woman to a slum locality in Kalwa. During preliminary questioning, she failed to produce a valid passport or visa permitting her stay in India.The investigation revealed that the woman entered India on a visa that expired in mid-Jan 2025. Despite the lapse of the visa, she continued to reside in the country without seeking an extension or renewing her travel documents. Verification carried out with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) confirmed her nationality and the expiry of her visa. Police also cited mobile phone records indicating frequent communication with contacts in Bangladesh.During the trial, the prosecution examined police witnesses and placed documentary evidence on record, including official inputs received from the FRRO. The defence claimed that the woman was residing lawfully in India but failed to submit any documentary proof in support of the claim.In its judgment, the court observed that under Section 9 of the Foreigners Act, the burden of proving lawful stay in India lies on the accused. The judge noted that the accused did not discharge this burden and failed to explain her continued presence in India after the visa expiry. The court held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.Considering the nature of the offence and the period already undergone in custody, the court awarded the minimum sentence prescribed under law. The district administration has been directed to initiate deportation proceedings after the completion of the sentence, in accordance with established rules and procedures.
