05-08-2025
Bengal's Imamuddin, With 3 Aadhar Cards & PAN Card, Found In UP As...: ‘Hurt Religious Sentiments'
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Police recovered three Aadhaar cards and one PAN card from Ansari. One Aadhaar card carried the name 'Bangali Nath' and an address linked to a temple in Saharanpur.
A 55-year-old Muslim man from West Bengal, Imamuddin Ansari, has been arrested for allegedly living in a temple under a fake identity for two years. He was staying at the Shani Mandir in Manti Hasanpur village of Thana Bhawan area in Shamli, Uttar Pradesh, posing as 'Baba Bengali alias Balaknath".
The arrest came on Saturday night after Thana Bhawan police received information about his real identity. Police raided the temple and took him into custody for questioning.
During the search, police recovered three Aadhaar cards and one PAN card from Ansari. One Aadhaar card carried the name 'Bangali Nath' and an address linked to a temple in Saharanpur. The other two Aadhaar cards and the PAN card mentioned his original name, Imamuddin Ansari and an address in Alipurduar district, West Bengal.
Shamli SP Ramsevak Gautam said, 'A case has been filed against the accused under charges of making fake documents and hurting religious sentiments. The accused was produced before the Kairana court and has been sent to judicial custody for 14 days."
Police have dispatched a team to West Bengal to verify the address and gather details about Ansari's background. Officials will check whether he has any previous criminal record and how the fake Aadhaar card was obtained. Police are also investigating if any other people were involved in changing his name in official documents.
SP Gautam said no suspicious documents, bank accounts or evidence of religious conversion have been found so far. 'The matter is being thoroughly investigated. Strict action will be taken based on the facts that come out," he added.
Hindu Groups React
The incident has triggered anger among local Hindu organisations. District Math Mandir Pramukh Bharat Bhushan said the matter is 'unexpected and serious" and demanded strict police action. He added that temple organisations would start monitoring similar cases across the district.
VHP District Service Chief Vinni Rana and District General Secretary Shalu Rana also condemned the act. They said their workers would keep a watch on people posing as sadhus in rural areas. 'Any conspiracy against Sanatan will not be allowed to succeed," said Shalu Rana.
Police have assured that the investigation will be fair and transparent and urged people not to spread rumours.
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