The police in Karnataka’s Chikkaballapura district on Sunday swooped down on two Pakistani nationals for allegedly obtaining Indian identity documents by concealing their nationality, officials said.
The accused duo, identified as Farah Naz and her son, Mohammed Fardeen, allegedly secured a ration card and a voter identity card through fraudulent means by withholding material information regarding their citizenship. The cops have invoked relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Foreigners Act and the Representation of the People Act against the mother-son duo.
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Chikkaballapura’s Superintendent of Police (SP) Kushal Chouksey confirmed that the aforementioned cases had been registered against the duo, adding that the police acted on credible intelligence inputs suggesting that the duo, both Pakistani nationals, had managed to secure official Indian IDs.
Probe reveals cross-border family background
As per the police probe, Mohammed Ayub Khan, a resident of Bagepalli who was employed in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), married Farah Naz, a Pakistani woman, while both were residing in the Gulf country.
The couple has four children, including Mohammed Fardeen, who was born in Pakistan. The investigating police personnel said Farah Naz and Mohammed Fardeen continue to hold Pakistani nationality, whereas Ayub Khan and the couple’s other three kids are Indian nationals.
The family is residing in Bagepalli in Karnataka at present.
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Documents cancelled after verification
After an inquiry was conducted, officials scrutinised the records and concluded that the ration card had been obtained fraudulently by suppressing crucial information relating to the applicants’ nationality.
Consequently, the authorities cancelled the ration card. The voter ID issued to the accused was also revoked by the competent authority after the verification process.
Police said the action was taken after a complaint was lodged by the Bagepalli Tehsildar, prompting an in-depth probe into the alleged irregularities.
Accused booked under multiple laws
On the basis of the complaint and subsequent findings, police registered a criminal case against Farah Naz and Mohammed Fardeen under the applicable provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Foreigners Act and the Representation of the People Act.
SP Chouksey said the accused duo has been taken into custody and that a probe into the case is underway. Officials are currently examining the circumstances under which the documents were issued and whether any procedural lapses or additional people were involved in facilitating the alleged procurement of the identity documents.
On the other hand, the cops have not yet disclosed further details regarding the ongoing probe. Authorities said the probe will establish the full sequence of events leading to the issuance of the ration card and voter ID, and ascertain whether any additional legal action is required.