Pakistani man, the mastermind of Passport fraud, voted during 2021 bengal polls

Pakistani national Azad Malik was arrested in Birati, North 24 Parganas, by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for his involvement in a passport fraud case. According to ED sources, Malik entered India illegally from Bangladesh and registered his name in the Indian voter list under a fake identity. He is believed to have used his wife’s identity, whom he married after moving to West Bengal in 2020, to fraudulently acquire voter registration. As a result, Malik participated in both the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections by casting his vote.

Further investigation revealed that Malik's activities went beyond voter fraud. The ED and National Investigation Agency (NIA) are examining his possible involvement in more serious offenses, including hawala operations and espionage. Intelligence sources have indicated that Malik could have had links to Pakistan's intelligence agency, ISI, but this is still under investigation. Despite being interrogated multiple times, Malik has reportedly been evasive when questioned about his activities, which has led authorities to suspect that his actions could be part of a larger, more complex scheme.

The arrest has raised concerns regarding the integrity of India’s electoral system and security protocols. Authorities are now working to determine the full extent of Malik's operations, including identifying any other individuals involved in this case. The ED and NIA are continuing their investigations to uncover whether Malik had any direct involvement with ISI and if he was operating as part of a larger espionage network.