11 Arrested in Delhi for Forging Aadhaar and Voter IDs for Bangladeshi Nationals
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu):Delhi Police have uncovered an illegal immigration racket, arresting 11 people, including document forgers, Aadhaar operators, and tech experts behind fake websites. The accused were involved in creating counterfeit Aadhaar cards, voter ID cards, and other documents through forged identities on fraudulent websites. The crackdown follows directives from the Delhi LG Secretariat, which instructed the Chief Secretary and Police Chief to initiate a two-month drive to identify and take strict action against illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in the city.
Modus Operandi and Discovery
The accused used forged IDs to produce Aadhaar cards and other documents. They facilitated illegal immigration from Bangladesh to Delhi using jungle routes and express trains. The network provided fake Aadhaar cards, temporary SIM cards, and cash for travel expenses to the immigrants. The case came to light when police investigated the murder of Sentu Sheikh, also known as Raja, reported on October 21 in the Sangam Vihar police station area.
"During the investigation, we arrested four Bangladeshis who confessed to murdering Sentu. After further interrogation, we uncovered information about a larger immigration racket operating in Delhi," said DCP (South) Ankit Chauhan.
Details of the Arrests
The arrested Bangladeshis have been identified as Midul Miyan alias Akash Ahmed, Fardeen Ahmed alias Abhi Ahmed, and two women, who are in police custody. "Their interrogation revealed that they had entered India illegally and had been living in Sangam Vihar for over a year. They had obtained fake Indian identification documents. They also presented their real Bangladeshi identification documents, including chip-based NID cards and birth certificates," DCP Chauhan added.
This led the police to shift their focus to a gang involved in creating fake Indian documents to facilitate illegal immigration.
Document Forgers and Tech Experts Identified
At the deceased’s residence, police discovered 21 Aadhaar cards, 4 voter ID cards, and 8 PAN cards, all believed to belong to Bangladeshi nationals. This find prompted police to uncover an elaborate network of document forgers and tech experts. Based on information from the murder suspects, police raided multiple locations, eventually arresting the tech team led by Sahil Sehgal, Afroz, Sonu Kumar, Mohammad Danish, and Saddam Hussain, who handled the finances, and Ranjit, the middleman.
The investigation revealed that the accused had their Aadhaar cards made at the Poonam Online Computer Center in Rohini’s Sector-5, owned by Sehgal. Afroz, an authorized Aadhaar operator at a bank, created Aadhaar cards using fraudulent documents. Sonu, a technical expert, developed a fake website, Jantaprints.site, which offered fake documents, including birth certificates, caste certificates, income certificates, and more at nominal prices.
A senior police officer explained that the fake website appeared legitimate, complete with a helpline number and impressive statistics, including over 5,000 downloads, 1,500+ ratings, 300+ comments, and 10,000+ resolved complaints. The site offered counterfeit documents at suspiciously low prices, such as a birth certificate for Rs 20 and a driving license for Rs 7.
Systematic Operation and Financial Network
Sonu learned how to create fake websites from YouTube and had previously created other fake document sites, Portalwale.com and Portalwale.online. He also ran a cyber café in Noida. "The accused established a well-organized system. Illegal immigrants would enter India through jungle routes, travel to Delhi by AC trains, and upon arrival, they were provided with fake Aadhaar cards and SIM cards," said the senior police officer.
The financial trail led to the arrests of Mohammad Chand and Saddam Hussain, who handled payments through Paytm QR codes. Police also arrested Ranjit, who worked as a middleman between the computer center and the Aadhaar operator.
Seizures and Ongoing Investigation
The police have seized six laptops, six phones, an Aadhaar card machine, and numerous forged documents. The group primarily created Aadhaar cards for individuals shown as under 18, as these were easier to process at multiple centers in Delhi. The investigation is ongoing, with police determined to dismantle the entire illegal network and bring those involved to justice.
