Bengaluru, July 13: Two Pakistani nationals have been arrested in Karnataka’s Chikkaballapur district for allegedly obtaining Indian voter identity cards and ration cards by concealing their nationality, police said. The arrests come amid a political controversy over the Karnataka government’s proposal to issue Permanent Residence Certificates (PRCs).
The accused, identified as Farah Naz and her son Mohammed Fardeen, were arrested after an inquiry found they had allegedly secured Indian identity documents without acquiring Indian citizenship. A criminal case has been registered against them under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Foreigners Act and the Representation of the People Act. Further investigation is underway.
According to police, Farah Naz, a Pakistani national, married Mohammed Ayub Khan, a native of Bagepalli, while he was working in the UAE. The couple has four children, of whom Mohammed Fardeen was born in Pakistan. Investigators said Farah Naz and Fardeen are Pakistani nationals, while Ayub Khan and their other children are Indian citizens. The family currently resides in Bagepalli.
The case came to light after Chikkaballapur police received credible information that the two had obtained Indian ration cards and voter identity cards. Following verification sought by the district police, the Deputy Commissioner cancelled the ration card after finding it had allegedly been obtained by suppressing material facts relating to nationality. The competent authority also cancelled the voter identity card.
The complaint was filed by Bagepalli Tahsildar Manisha N. Patri, who stated that the duo had illegally obtained the documents despite not being Indian citizens. Based on her complaint, police registered an FIR and initiated legal proceedings.
Investigators are also probing how the official documents were issued and whether any government officials or intermediaries facilitated the process.
The arrests come amid an ongoing political debate over the Karnataka government’s proposal to authorise tahsildars to issue Permanent Residence Certificates. While the BJP has expressed concerns that the move could be misused by illegal immigrants, the state government has maintained that PRCs establish only residency and not citizenship, and would be issued only after due verification of documents. (Agencies)
