Latest news with #Jandullah
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
A house in Patna & web of immigrants buying fake IDs
Lucknow / Patna: The arrest of Afghan national Jandullah Dad Mohammad, 29, from Lucknow airport on May 22 has led the Bureau of Immigration sleuths to a house in Patna, the address of which was registered against several duplicate IDs. Intel agencies are working to confirm if Jandullah's chance arrest has helped them step on a major racket where fake IDs and forged documents, such as ration cards and voter IDs, were being made for illegal immigrants or even wanted criminals. Just five-minute walk from Patna Junction, Wakil Anwer House tucked in the congested lane off Jamal Road is home to about two dozen rooms. To the Election Commission of India (ECI) and intelligence agencies, the house is a curious anomaly—a hub of questionable identities, with electoral rolls showing eerie duplication of names, ages, and fathers' identities. ECI's consolidated electoral list, published on Jan 7, 2025, under a special summary revision, revealed the building has 12 male occupants, all in their 20s and 30s except one, with no women registered. Alarmingly, at least four of them shared identical details: Same age, same father's name (Kabir), and multiple Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPICs). Electoral registration officer (ERO) Raghvendra Pratap Singh told TOI, "We were told by the occupants of the house that Jandullah had come to Patna some five years ago. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 나이 들수록 안 빠지는 복부 내장지방 뱃살 쫙 빠지는 "이것" 신현재 중년 복부비만 개선 더 알아보기 Undo His supposed brother Mansur left for Dubai six months ago, and there's no information about their father, Kabir." The ERO has ordered cancellation of Mansur's and Mohammad Sher Khan's duplicate EPICs, noting, "One individual cannot have two EPICs." The remaining occupants claim their ancestors have lived in India for decades, working as daily wagers selling dry fruits, carpets, sarees, bangles, or shawls. Singh has demanded their documents to ascertain their nationality. Syed Akbar Ahmad, one of the property's owners, told TOI about its long-standing Afghan connection. "Jandullah's father came from Afghanistan many years ago. Five years ago, the son came, but I don't have any idea about their whereabouts," he said. "It never occurred to me that I should ask for rent agreement or their police verification as they had been living here for several years," Ahmad said. He claimed Afghan tenants have resided on his property for over 70 years, with some families dating back to their grandfathers' time. "The tenants who started living on my property several decades ago have never left or been replaced," he added. Shayab Khan, a tenant in his early 50s, said, "My grandfather migrated to Patna 70-80 years ago. I have all identity proofs as a resident of India, including Aadhaar card, voter card, driving licence, and other documents. I have voted in both assembly and parliamentary elections at least 15 times." Khan's claim aligns with the historical migration of Pashtuns from Afghanistan to India, particularly before 1947, when many settled in cities like Patna to engage in trade. But things seem to have changed. Jandullah's case points to a sophisticated document racket likely operating from Patna. After entering India on a six-day medical visa in Dec 2019, he vanished from Delhi's radar. By 2020, he had acquired a full suite of fake Indian IDs, passing himself off as Rehan from Kotwali Patna.
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Afghan jalebi: How a Patna building became hotbed for immigrants with multiple voter IDs
An Afghan National's Arrest At Lko Airport On May 22 Has Led Intel Sleuths To A Sophisticated Racket Of Forged IDs, Illegal Stay & Activities PATNA: Just five-minute walk from the bustling Patna Junction, stands an unassuming two-storey building painted ivory white. Known locally as Wakil Anwer House, this structure tucked in the congested lane off Jamal Road under Kotwali jurisdiction is home to about two dozen rooms. To the casual observer, it's just another residential building in Bihar's capital. But to the Election Commission of India (ECI) and intelligence agencies, it's a curious anomaly—a hub of questionable identities, with electoral rolls showing eerie duplications of names, ages, and fathers' identities. On May 22, the Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport (CCSIA) in Lucknow, some 500 km away, became the stage for a dramatic arrest. Jandullah Dad Mohammad, a 29-year-old Afghan national from the volatile Paktika province, was arrested by Bureau of Immigration (BoI) sleuths. He wasn't traveling as Jandullah. Instead, he carried an impeccable suite of Indian identity documents under the alias Rehan, son of Kabir, claiming residency at Wakil Anwer House. His Indian passport (C6978659), Aadhaar card (322874855132), PAN card (ETXPR8222K), driving license (BR0120210005369), SBI bank passbook, municipal corporation Patna issued birth certificate (B-2019 10-90097 025254), voter ID and even a ration card painted a convincing picture of an Indian citizen. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Understanding the Deep Decarbonization Pathways Project (Learn More) Search Ads | Advancing Sustainability Search Now Undo But a junior immigration officer's routine verbal check unraveled the façade. 'Aap Patna ke hain? Kahaan se hain wahan?' the officer asked. Rehan's Pashto accent, a remnant of his roots in Paktika—a rugged region bordering Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan—betrayed him. He fumbled basic questions about Patna, a city he claimed as home. His tone was 'all wrong,' the officer. Among his possessions, the BoI recovered an Afghan passport (P01694227) identifying him as Jandullah Dad Mohammad and an expired Indian medical visa (VL2796501) from December 2019. The discovery of $1,600 USD, 3,000 UAE Dirham, Rs 21,000, a UAE visa, hotel bookings, and three mobile phones—including a gleaming iPhone 16 Pro—only deepened the mystery. To the untrained eye, he was just a Bihari heading to Sharjah for work or leisure. But Jandullah's journey from Paktika to Patna to Lucknow's airport has left authorities scrambling to piece together a complex puzzle. A house of suspect identities The ECI's consolidated electoral list, published on January 7, 2025, under a special summary revision, revealed startling details about Wakil Anwer House. Located in the Bankipur assembly constituency and Patna Sahib parliamentary constituency, the building is listed under part name 147, Rajkiye Kanya Uchcha Vidyalay Dakbangla Road (Purvi Bhaag). The list records 12 male occupants, all in their 20s and 30s except one, with no women registered. Alarmingly, at least four of them—including Jandullah's supposed brother Mansur—shared identical details: same age, same father's name (Kabir), and multiple Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPICs). Rehan's EPIC (AFS3853934) lists him as 29, son of Kabir. Mansur, 30, son of Kabir, holds two EPICs (AFS4130290 and AFS4127999). Mohammad Sher Khan, 43, son of Mohammad Abbas Khan, also has two EPICs (AFS4129953 and AFS4125266). Other occupants include Imtiyaz Khan (25), Salim (26), Eshan Khan (26), Abdul Rehman Khan (24), Iqbal Khan (23), Shafi Khan (22), and Sharo Khan (22). Speaking to TOI, electoral registration officer (ERO) Raghvendra Pratap Singh revealed that investigations pointed to irregularities. 'During our investigation, we were told by the occupants of Wakil Anwer House that Rehan had come to Patna some five years ago. His supposed brother Mansur left for Dubai six months ago, and there is no information about their father, Kabir,' ERO said. Jandullah's real father, Dad Mohammad Khan, suggests the name 'Kabir' was part of the fabricated identity. An Indian passport (U2145507) of Kabir was issued on Feb 4, 2020, however a death certificate of his 'supposed' wife, designates him late Kabir. The deceased woman was identified as Bibi Danagai, who died on September 9, 2018. However, in Kabir's passport his wife's name is Bibi Dano, while in the birth certificate of Rehan's, Kabir's wife's name was mentioned as Bibi Aisha. Meanwhile, the ERO has ordered the cancellation of Mansur's and Mohammad Sher Khan's duplicate EPICs, noting, 'One individual cannot have two EPICs.' The remaining occupants claim their ancestors have lived in India for decades, working as daily wage earners selling dry fruits, carpets, sarees, bangles, and shawls. Singh has demanded their documents for verification to ascertain their nationality. Legacy of Afghan migration Wakil Anwer House's history adds another layer to the story. Syed Akbar Ahmad, one of the property's owners, spoke to the TOI team about its long-standing Afghan connection. 'Rehan's father came from Afghanistan many years back. Five years ago, his son Rehan came, but I don't have any idea about their whereabouts anymore,' Ahmad said. He said, "It never came to our mind for the rent agreement or the police verification of the Afghans as they were living for several years. However, the new occupants now sign a rent agreement and have to follow the police verifications." He further claimed that Afghan tenants have resided on his property for over 70 years, with some families dating back to their grandfathers' time. 'The tenants who started living on my property several decades back have never left or been replaced,' he added. Shayab Khan, a tenant in his early 50s, echoed this sentiment. 'My grandfather migrated to Patna around 70–80 years ago,' he told The Times of India. 'I have all identity proofs as a resident of India, including an Aadhaar card, voter card, driving license, and other documents. I have voted in both assembly and parliamentary elections at least 15 times since I became an eligible voter.' Khan's claim aligns with the historical migration of Pashtuns from Afghanistan to India, particularly before 1947, when many settled in cities like Patna to engage in trade. Web of forgery Jandullah's case points to a sophisticated document racket likely operating out of Patna. After entering India on a six-day medical visa in December 2019, he vanished from Delhi's radar. By 2020, he had acquired a full suite of fake Indian IDs, passing himself off as Rehan from Kotwali Patna. Authorities suspect a local network facilitated this transformation, providing everything from Aadhaar to voter IDs. The BoI's seizure of his documents has triggered a broader investigation into Wakil Anwer House and its occupants. 'We have asked the house owner to bring all related documents, including the rent agreement, to aid the investigation,' ERO Raghvendra Pratap Singh said. 'The case raises pressing questions: Who provided Jandullah with these forged identities? How did he and others secure multiple EPICs? What did he do for a living during his five years in Patna? And who else at Wakil Anwer House might be living under false pretences?,' said an intelligence officer. At least the ECI is working on the ground to verify the identities of all occupants, a process complicated by the lack of women in the electoral list. Broader context Jandullah's arrest comes amid heightened scrutiny of immigration and citizenship in India. The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA), offers a pathway for Afghan nationals of certain religious communities (Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians) who entered India before December 31, 2014, to apply for citizenship. However, Jandullah, whose religion remains unspecified in reports, appears to have bypassed legal routes, opting for forged documents instead. For Afghan nationals who settled in India before 1947, like some occupants of Wakil Anwer House claim, citizenship may be attainable through registration under Section 5 of the Citizenship Act, 1955, or the CAA if they belong to eligible communities. Yet, Jandullah's attempt to flee to Sharjah suggests a different motive—perhaps evading scrutiny or seeking opportunities abroad under a false identity. Though his e-visa copy read that Jandullah alias Rehan identified himself as a sales representative and was heading UAE for 30 days on tourist visa.
News18
23-05-2025
- News18
Afghan Man Who Stayed 5 Years In India With Fake ID Held At Lucknow Airport
Last Updated: Jandullah, a resident of Afghanistan's Paktika province, admitted to having stayed illegally in India for several years and obtaining forged documents to establish a false identity In a startling breach of airport security, immigration authorities at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow apprehended an Afghan national attempting to board an international flight using a forged Indian passport. The incident occurred on Sunday, May 19, when the man, later identified as Jandullah, alias Rehan, was preparing to board an IndiGo flight bound for Sharjah. According to immigration officials, the individual initially identified himself as 'Rehan", a native of Bihar. However, his dialect and language immediately raised red flags with immigration officer Vidya Ram Shukla, who was on duty at the time. Sensing inconsistencies, Shukla initiated a deeper inquiry into the man's documents. A subsequent investigation revealed that all of the Indian identity documents in the accused's possession including his Aadhaar card, PAN card, and passport, were issued after 2020. Yet records showed he had entered India in 2019 on a six-day medical visa. This glaring discrepancy set off alarm bells. Under intense interrogation, the suspect confessed that his true identity was Jandullah, a resident of Chakan village in Afghanistan's Paktika province. He admitted to having stayed illegally in India for several years and obtaining forged Indian documents to establish a false identity. Officials also learned of an elaborate personal backstory: after initially entering the country for medical treatment, Jandullah remained in India and integrated into local life. He reportedly lived with his brother and even participated in a family wedding. Within a week, his suspicious behaviour prompted further scrutiny, eventually leading to his confession. With the gravity of the situation apparent, immigration authorities swiftly alerted the local police and intelligence agencies. The suspect has since been remanded to judicial custody following preliminary investigations. Security and intelligence agencies are now working to trace his movements across cities during his stay in India. How someone managed to remain undetected for nearly five years using counterfeit documents is a significant lapse, said a senior intelligence official familiar with the case, speaking on condition of anonymity. Police are preparing to seek custodial remand to extract more information from the accused as the probe expands into what may be a broader network of illegal entries and forged documentation. First Published: May 23, 2025, 14:47 IST
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Time of India
Accent that betrayed: An Afghan'sfailed masquerade as a Bihari
Lucknow: The bustling departure terminal of Lucknow's Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport was alive with the usual hum of travellers. Among them stood Jandullah Dad Mohammad, a 33-year-old man from Afghanistan's rugged Paktika Province, clutching an Indian passport under the alias Rehan of Patna. His destination was Sharjah, his demeanour calm—until his accent betrayed him, unravelling a tale of forged identities, illicit travel, and a life lived in the shadows. It was just past 7 pm on Monday when Jandullah, dressed in nondescript travel attire, approached the immigration observation counter for IndiGo flight 6E1423 to Sharjah. His documents were impeccable: an Indian passport, Aadhaar card, PAN card, Voter ID, driving licence, SBI bank passbook, and even a ration card, all bearing the name Rehan, son of Kabir, from Kotwali, Patna. He carried US $1,600, 3,000 UAE Dirham, ₹21,000, a UAE visa, hotel bookings, and three mobile phones, including a gleaming iPhone 16 Pro. To the untrained eye, he was a Bihari heading abroad for work or leisure. But something felt off to the junior immigration officer scanning his profile. The documents aligned, yet Jandullah's presence didn't. His face, his mannerisms, his story—they didn't quite match the dossier of a Patna native. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo The officer, trained to spot discrepancies, leaned in for a routine verbal check. "Aap Patna ke hain? Kahaan se hain wahan? (Are you from Patna? Where in Patna?)" he asked casually, probing for details about Rehan's supposed hometown. Jandullah responded, but his words carried an unfamiliar cadence. The lilt of Magadhi, the dialect spoken across Bihar's heartland, was absent. His Hindi was stilted, tinged with a foreign inflection that didn't belong to the Gangetic plains. "He claimed to be from Patna but couldn't answer basic questions about the city. His tone was all wrong," the officer later told colleagues. After signalling for backup, the officer had Jandullah quietly escorted to a holding room for further questioning. The suspicion turned to certainty when a background check revealed his Afghan passport and expired medical visa hidden in his bag. Authorities learned Jandullah had entered India in December 2019 on a six-day medical visa but vanished after landing in Delhi. By 2020, he'd acquired a full suite of fake IDs, likely through a Patna-based document racket. The revelation has stunned the immigration team. It's important to note that Paktika is a volatile region bordering Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Known for its rugged Toba Kakar Range and proximity to terrorrist strongholds, it's a place where survival often trumps legality. Jandullah's journey from there to Lucknow's airport was a puzzle authorities were now desperate to piece together. On Thursday afternoon, the Sarojini Nagar police in Lucknow had lodged an FIR against Jandullah, based on the written complaint of immigration sleuth, charging Afghan national under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for cheating, impersonation, forgery, using forged documents, and violations of the Passport Act (section 12) and Foreigners Act (section 14B). The charges painted a picture of a calculated crime: Entering India on a medical visa, overstaying illegally, and building a false identity to move freely, perhaps toward a larger scheme. Presented before a magistrate, Jandullah was remanded to judicial custody, his Sharjah dreams grounded.
