Thane, Apr 6 Three Bangladeshi nationals were sentenced to 14 months in jail by a Thane court for illegal stay in India.
Additional Sessions Judge R.S. Bhakare, in a judgment delivered on April 1, however, discharged them from provisions of Foreigners Act.
Jahid Aainal Khan (23), Sapna Madan Sikdar (31) and Juithi Jahangir Dhali (25) were convicted under Passport (Entry into India) Rules 1950 after they voluntarily pleaded guilty.
"There is no material on record to show that the place where accused were found is notified as restricted area. Hence, charge under Section 14A of Foreigners Act is not made out," the order said.
The court directed that the three be deported to Bangladesh after serving their sentences.
The three were held on February 28 last year near Uttarshiv Naka on Mumbra-Panvel Road.
