The Karnataka High Court upheld a case on Monday against a West Bengal resident accused of fabricating Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, and rental agreements for Bangladeshi nationals. Justice M Nagaprasanna presided over the proceedings in the case Arnab Mandal v. State of Karnataka, where the accused sought to quash his arrest.
The court firmly rejected the petition to dismiss the charges, emphasizing that such actions are detrimental to national interests. Justice Nagaprasanna criticized the accused, stating, “By creating fake Aadhaar cards for individuals who are not Indian citizens, you undermine national security. Such acts are against the interest of the nation.”
The defense, represented by Advocate Rakshit R, contended that Sections 336(2) and 336(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertain to forgery, were not applicable to the petitioner. Furthermore, the defense argued that Section 14 of the Foreigners Act was irrelevant since the petitioner is not a foreign national.
The accused has been in custody since January 22, 2024, having served nearly half of the potential sentence. Nonetheless, the court expressed disapproval of the accused’s actions, highlighting the increasing prevalence of fake Aadhaar cards and their implications. Justice Nagaprasanna remarked, “The creation of fake Aadhaar cards is rampant, yet you claim no offense is committed. This is a serious issue. These documents form the basis of rights for non-citizens. Such actions compromise state security. Aren’t you Indian?”
In response to the request for quashing proceedings and seeking interim protection, the court denied any relief, affirming, “You are rightly in custody. If you seek other forms of relief, that may be considered, but not quashment. I will instruct the trial court to expedite the trial. Do not approach this court for quashment; it may jeopardize your bail prospects.”
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Subsequently, the petitioner’s counsel sought to withdraw the petition to pursue bail in the trial court, citing the substantial period of custody already served by the petitioner. The court consented and disposed of the petition accordingly.
