Bangladeshi Woman Sentenced for Forging Aadhaar Card to Claim Indian Citizenship
News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/10th July 2024
A Surat district court has sentenced Mallika Sakin Sardar, a 63-year-old Bangladeshi woman, to 14 months in prison for obtaining a fake Aadhaar card using forged documents to claim Indian nationality. Sardar, who has been residing in Surat since 2020, hails from Gopalganj district in Bangladesh and lived in the Mandarwaja tenement in Salabatpura.
Sardar was arrested by Athwalines police last March after they recovered a Bangladeshi passport issued to her on September 28, 2022, along with an Aadhaar card and a Covid-19 vaccination certificate. The police also found a valid Bangladeshi visa dated from October 30, 2022, to October 19, 2023. She was subsequently charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for forgery, using forged documents, and forgery for the purpose of cheating.
During the trial, public prosecutor Pawan Shah argued that Sardar used the fake Aadhaar card to seek Indian citizenship. Shah emphasized the increasing problem of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh entering India and acquiring Indian citizenship documents through fraudulent means. He contended that showing leniency in such cases could encourage others to follow suit.
The court, presided over by Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Vijaykumar Barot, convicted Sardar under Section 465 of the IPC for seven months and Section 471 of the IPC for another seven months. After serving her 14-month sentence, the court ordered that Sardar be deported to Bangladesh, and a report confirming this action be submitted to the court.
Sardar is currently lodged at Surat Central Jail. Prosecutor Pawan Shah expressed dissatisfaction with the court’s order, suggesting that a more severe sentence might have been warranted to deter future illegal immigration. He indicated that after reviewing the court’s detailed order, the prosecution would decide on any further legal action.
Attempts to contact Sardar’s defense lawyer, A N Dantani, for comments were unsuccessful.
The case highlights the ongoing issue of illegal immigration from Bangladesh into India. The use of forged documents to claim Indian citizenship not only poses legal challenges but also raises concerns about national security and the integrity of governmental identification systems.
The prosecution’s stance reflects a broader concern within Indian society about the implications of illegal immigration and the need for stringent measures to prevent it. The court’s decision to deport Sardar after her sentence underscores the Indian judiciary’s commitment to addressing such issues within the framework of existing laws.
The case also serves as a reminder of the importance of robust verification processes in the issuance of critical identification documents like the Aadhaar card. Ensuring the integrity of these processes is essential to maintaining public trust and preventing misuse by individuals seeking to exploit the system for personal gain.
As the case proceeds, it remains to be seen whether the prosecution will seek a harsher penalty or additional measures to address the broader issue of illegal immigration and document fraud. The outcome could have significant implications for future cases and the overall approach to immigration enforcement in India.
