Aadhaar, PAN, voter ID alone not enough proof of citizenship: Bombay high court

MUMBAI: Observing that claim of citizenship must be examined strictly under the Citizenship Act, 1955, Bombay high court Tuesday rejected the bail plea of a man who the police allege is a Bangladeshi national . The Thane resident, since 2013, said he holds Aadhaar , PAN card, voter ID and passport. His documents are linked to income tax records, bank accounts, utilities and business registration.

Justice Amit Borkar said, "Merely having documents such an Aadhaar card, PAN card or voter ID does not, by itself, make someone a citizen of India. These documents are meant for identification or availing services but they do not override the basic legal requirement of citizenship as prescribed in the Act.''

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The Wagle Estate police station lodged an FIR against Babu Abdul Ruf Sardar . The prosecution alleged he entered India illegally and used forged Indian identity documents. His phone, on forensic examination, contained digital copies of his mother's and his birth certificates issued in Bangladesh. Verification of Aadhaar card from Unique Identification Authority of India is awaited. Sardar was in "frequent contact with multiple numbers linked to Bangladesh."

Justice Borkar said the allegations are not limited to mere technical violation of immigration norms but "indicate a case of deliberate concealment of identity and creation of forged documents for obtaining Indian citizenship benefits." The Citizenship Act lays down a permanent system of acquiring and losing citizenship.