MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court has ruled that holding documents like Aadhaar, PAN, and voter ID does not, on its own, establish Indian citizenship. The court made this observation while rejecting the bail application of a man accused of being an illegal Bangladeshi immigrant.
The accused, Babu Abdul Ruf Sardar, a resident of Thane since 2013, claimed to possess Aadhaar, PAN, voter ID, and a passport. These documents were linked to his tax records, bank accounts, utilities, and business registration.
However, Justice Amit Borkar emphasized that such documents are meant for identification and access to services — not for establishing citizenship. “Mere possession of an Aadhaar card, PAN card, or voter ID does not confer Indian citizenship. These do not override the requirements of the Citizenship Act, 1955,” he said.
Sardar was booked by Wagle Estate police for allegedly entering India illegally and using forged Indian identity documents. A forensic analysis of his phone revealed digital copies of Bangladeshi birth certificates for him and his mother. He was also found to be in frequent contact with several phone numbers associated with Bangladesh. Verification of his Aadhaar with the UIDAI is still pending.
Justice Borkar noted the case goes beyond a simple immigration violation. “The allegations suggest a deliberate attempt to conceal true identity and fabricate documents to obtain benefits meant for Indian citizens,” he said. The court reiterated that the Citizenship Act provides a detailed legal framework for acquiring or losing citizenship in India.
