Latest news with #Aadhaars


Time of India
15-07-2025
- Time of India
2 held for creating fake Aadhaar, lens on terror links
Kolkata: The Bengal STF has arrested owners of a mobile shop on Birbhum for allegedly creating fake Aadhaar cards, using forged documents, in exchange for money. Sheikh Miraj and Abdul Quddus, alias Sheikh Munna, were rounded up from Sattor in Parui on Sunday. An STF officer said they were investigating their possible links with Bangladeshi terror agencies, given that two arrested JMB men—Saab Sheikh alias Saab Rabbi, also an Ansarullah Bangla Team terror cell member—frequented Sattor. "Miraj and Munna might have been helping the Pakistani spy network, with fake Aadhaars being used to get Indian SIMs," said the officer. The two were presented in the Bidhannagar court on Monday and sent to seven-day police custody. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata "The STF dismantled the well-organized, inter-state syndicate that forged govt documents. A case has been started at the STF (Headquarters) Police Station under the relevant sections of BNS, IT Act, the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial And Other Subsidies, Benefits And Services) Act and the Foreigners Act," said SP (Operations) Indrajit Basu.


Time of India
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Process to obtain Aadhaar for adults now much tougher
NEW DELHI: While Aadhaar was conceived as an identity proof, and not as proof of citizenship, allowing onboarding without real scrutiny, recent moves have meant that only verified adults can enrol for the unique ID. Besides, the Unique Identification Authority of India ( UIDAI ) is going to tap the online database for passport, ration cards, and birth and matriculation certificates in the future for enrolment of adults and also for updates to ensure that Aadhaar remains foolproof. While Section 9 of the Aadhaar Act states that it is not evidence of citizenship or domicile, the new tools are seeking to ensure only citizens get the unique number. Over the last 15 years, over 140 crore Aadhaars have been generated, including for those who have died, and there is near adult saturation. With infants also now getting Aadhaar soon after birth, govt has decided to tighten the norms for new adult registrations. To thwart attempts by illegal immigrants to get the unique ID based on forged or fake documents, for the last couple of years, the onus has been on states to verify credentials and that Aadhaar is only issued after rigorous checks through a state portal. In the past, there were concerns over illegal immigrants getting Aadhaar and then using it for other purposes, including other IDs. "It is going to be difficult for any illegal immigrant to now get Aadhaar," argued an official, indicating a shift from the relaxed, if existent at all, rules of enrolment. Sources said that even if illegal immigrants use Aadhaar to clear the SIR of electoral rolls, there is little possibility of new ones being able to use that as the launchpad for acquiring documents, and most crucially, citizenship. A new tool developed by UIDAI is also going to put a second layer of check for updates as well as enrolments by tapping into documents available online, such as driving licenses, PAN, MNREGS details, and going forward, things like electricity bill. These documents are also in line with the prescriptions for centralized KYC, and ensure a homogenous identity.


Time of India
03-07-2025
- Time of India
Cops crack 1.5cr land grab with Aadhaar fingerprints
T'puram: The fingerprints on Aadhaar cards and the mobile numbers linked to them helped trace the accused who snatched a property worth Rs 1.5 crore at Kowdiar by forging documents and impersonating the original owner. Police arrested Merin Jacob (27) of Puthu Parambil near Manacaud near Punalur and Vasantha (76) of Cheenivila Palakkad Veedu near Maruthoor at Karakulam. Vasantha posed as Dora Asariya Crips, the original owner of the land, and Merin as her step-daughter. Vasantha registered the property in Merin's name and she sold it for Rs 1.5 crore. The probe team, however, suspects the involvement of a larger network behind the crime as they feel two women alone cannot organise a crime of such magnitude. The accused forged all documents related to the land and Dora's identity card to snatch the land. The fraud came to light when a relative of Dora visited the village office to pay land tax and discovered that the land was sold and someone else was paying the tax. A case was registered soon and the police identified the property's new owner. He claimed he had bought the land by paying the money to Merin, who claimed to be Dora's step-daughter. The new owner also claimed that Dora was with Merin when the land was registered in his name. "When we examined the registration details at the sub-registrar office, we obtained the thumb impressions in the register and copies of the Aadhaar cards. The accused created two fake Aadhaar cards, in the names of Dora and Merin. However, the Aadhaar numbers in the cards belonged to the original Aadhaar cards of Vasantha and Merin, and the mobile numbers linked to the Aadhaar cards were also the same. The thumb impressions in the Aadhaars and the register at the sub-registrar office matched, and using the mobile number, police soon found the address of the accused. They were soon taken into custody, and arrests were recorded," said the probe team.