Foreign national resort to crime for extending 'illegal stay' in India

‎Bengaluru:‎‎ Police have made a starting discovery about foreigners desirous of extending their illegal stay in India. Some immigrants exploit the Indian justice system for extending their illegal stay. They deliberately commit a crime, get caught by the police, get bail and automatically get to stay in India until the trial is over, which may take a long time to complete.  ‎

This explosive information came to light during the interrogation of foreign nationals who have been arrested recently, police sources said.

Foreign nationals, mostly from African nations such as Nigeria, Congo, and Uganda among others, come to Bengaluru for a variety of visas such as business, education, medical, travel, etc. Many of them chose to stay illegally in India.

‎There are more than 2,500 foreigners living in Bengaluru. About a month before the expiry of their visas, some get involved in criminal cases. After getting bail, the period of ‘illegal stay’ gets extended anywhere from one month to one year, as they need to present themselves before the courts.‎

Joint Commissioner of Police, CCB, ‎‎Raman Gupta said that investigations have unearthed that some illegal immigrants deliberately committed crimes with the intention of prolonging their illegal stay. Steps are being taken to close these loopholes and directly deporting foreigners who commit crimes is seen as an option, he added.