The Enforcement Directorate (ED) suspects that Azad Mallick — a Pakistani national arrested for forging documents to obtain an Indian passport, may have deeper links to espionage activities.
During his interrogation, a series of startling revelations prompted investigators to explore the possibility that Mallick could be operating as a Pakistani spy.
Although Mallick initially claimed to be a Bangladeshi national after his arrest, further investigation revealed a different story -- he was born in Pakistan, entered Bangladesh around 18 years ago, and from there, illegally entered West Bengal.
Sleuths from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Central Intelligence Bureau interrogated Mallick and claimed to have uncovered crucial leads indicating his involvement in activities far more suspicious than just document forgery.
In a significant development, the ED moved the City Sessions Court seeking an extension of Mallick’s custody, citing the need for further interrogation.
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During a detailed hearing before Judge Sukumar Roy, ED officials submitted fresh findings to support their request. The court granted the plea, ordering Mallick to remain in ED’s custody until May 13.
According to ED sources, roughly 20,000 pages of sensitive documents have been recovered from Mallick. Investigators described the documents as highly crucial, with potential links to national security concerns.
Moreover, the ED claimed to have retrieved hundreds of audio and video files, along with numerous WhatsApp chat logs. “Several of these chats reportedly show direct communication between Mallick and Pakistani citizens. Some conversations involve monetary transactions, the nature and recipients of which remain under investigation,” said an ED official.
Officials stressed that identifying the people involved in these communications— and understanding the true purpose of the documents and transactions—is critical. Hence, the agency pushed for continued custody to unravel the network Mallick might be a part of.
As the probe deepens, the possibility that Mallick is more than just a document forger— possibly a cog in a larger intelligence operation— s now being explored.
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