In a major directive aimed at curbing illegal immigration, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara has issued a strict warning to property owners across Bengaluru and the state. He stated that renting out homes to foreign nationals without valid visas or those overstaying their permitted duration will face severe legal consequences.
Verify Documents, Alert Police: Minister's Direct Order
Addressing the media on Saturday, Parameshwara appealed directly to house owners to exercise extreme caution. "House owners should carefully verify the documents of any foreign nationals seeking rental accommodation. If anything appears suspicious, they should immediately alert the jurisdictional police," the minister emphasized. This comes amid growing concerns over illegal immigrants, particularly from Bangladesh, entering the city by allegedly paying agents.
Deportation Drive and Legal Action Against Landlords
The minister provided concrete data on the state's crackdown. He recalled that in response to a query during the Belagavi legislative session last month, he had revealed that over 300 foreign nationals overstaying in India have been deported from Bengaluru and other parts of Karnataka so far. A significant majority of these, about 200, were deported from Bengaluru alone. Several of those deported were also caught on charges related to drug peddling.
Parallel action has been taken against negligent landlords. Since 2022, approximately 120 house owners in Bengaluru have been booked for violating provisions of the Immigration and Foreigners Act. A common violation was their failure to inform the local police about foreign nationals staying in their rented properties. The law mandates that owners must notify the police within 24 hours of a foreign national occupying their premises.
Call for Tighter Border Vigilance
Parameshwara also pointed to systemic issues enabling illegal entry. "If an unauthorised immigrant is entering the country by paying money, it shows loopholes in the system. Border forces must remain vigilant," he stated, stressing the need for enhanced security at state and national borders to prevent such infiltrations.
The state government's message is clear: property owners are now on the front line of immigration compliance and must act as responsible gatekeepers by verifying credentials and reporting suspicious tenants without delay.
