Thane, April 6 Three Bangladeshi nationals were sentenced to 14 months in prison by a Thane court for illegal stay in India.
Additional Sessions Judge R.S. Bhakare, in a judgment delivered on April 1, however, acquitted them under the Foreigners Act.
Jahid Aainal Khan (23), Sapna Madan Sikdar (31), and Juithi Jahangir Dhali (25) were convicted under the Passport (Entry into India) Rules 1950 after they voluntarily pleaded guilty.
"There is no evidence to show that the location where the accused were found is designated as a restricted area. Therefore, charges under Section 14A of the Foreigners Act are not applicable," the order stated.
The court ordered that the three be deported to Bangladesh after completing their sentences.
The three were apprehended near Uttarshiv Naka on the Mumbra-Panvel Road on February 28 last year.