NIA FILES SUPPLEMENTARY CHARGESHEET AGAINST 4 IN SRI LANKAN HUMAN TRAFFICKING CASE

New Delhi, 19th January 2024: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday filed a Supplementary Chargesheet against four accused in a 2021 case relating to human trafficking of 39 Sri Lankan nationals into India on the false pretext of taking them to Canada.

Mohamed Imrankhan @ Imran, who was arrested by the NIA recently, has been charge-sheeted under various sections of IPC relating to trafficking, confinement and conspiracy, along with absconders Seeni Aabul Khan, Mohamed Ibrahim @ Ahmed and Pudumadam Imran @ Hajiyar @ Imrankhan, before the NIA Special Court, Bengaluru.

The accused were involved in trafficking of the 39 Sri Lankans to Mangaluru via Tamil Nadu by falsely promising them that they were being taken to Canada. The victims were confined in various Lodges across Mangaluru and were initially arrested by Karnataka Police, as accomplices along with the accused persons.

NIA had launched investigations after taking over the case on 13th July 2021 and found the 39 to be the victims of a human trafficking ring. The agency had filed the original Chargesheet in the case (RC-17/2021/NIA/DLI) on 5th October 2021 against six accused persons who were involved in the trafficking, while the victims were freed and sent back home.

NIA investigations revealed that Mohammed Imrankhan, in conspiracy with Pudhumadam Imran and his friends Seeni Aabul Khan and Mohamed Ibrahim, received the Sri Lankan nationals in mid sea, and brought them to Bengaluru and further to Mangaluru. Further investigations showed that the entire initial conspiracy was planned by Pudumadam Imran along with one Eesan, a Sri Lankan national, who is one of the absconding accused in the case.

The accused had collected vast sums of money from the victims, and also subsequently from their families, by falsely promising to take them to Canada with valid Passports and visas.

NIA efforts to arrest the remaining accused persons are continuing.