Surat: In a startling revelation, two individuals from Surat, Gujarat, have been apprehended for their involvement in a grave security breach. These culprits allegedly engaged in the forgery of essential documents such as Aadhaar and PAN cards, along with voter IDs, utilizing a clandestine website. This audacious act has raised significant concerns over national security.
The arrests and massive forgery
The accused masterminds behind this audacious operation have been detained in Surat, Gujarat. According to reports, they successfully forged an astonishing two lakh identity documents, including Aadhaar and PAN cards. These falsified documents were then illicitly sold, fetching prices ranging from Rs 15 to Rs 200 each.
Breach of government database
A particularly disconcerting aspect of this operation was the unlawful access to the government database. Such an act of unauthorized intrusion into sensitive government systems is a grave matter and has profound implications for national security.
Investigation unveils serious concerns
The investigation into this matter was initiated following a complaint from a private lender. The complaint alleged that certain individuals had secured loans based on counterfeit documents and subsequently defaulted on repayment. In response, law enforcement authorities apprehended six suspects on charges of forgery and cheating, under the guidance of Assistant Commissioner of Police (Economic Offences), VK Parmar.
The perpetrators and their tactics
During interrogation, Prince Hemant Prasad, one of the accused, admitted to accessing the implicated website using his registered credentials. He then proceeded to download counterfeit Aadhaar and PAN cards, paying a fee ranging from Rs 15 to Rs 50 per document. These bogus identity cards found their way into various illicit activities, such as securing bank loans and acquiring SIM cards.
Additional arrests
The investigation expanded to reveal more individuals linked to this nefarious operation. Somnath Pramodkumar, residing in Rajasthan, and Premvirsinh Thakur from Uttar Pradesh were among those arrested. These individuals played crucial roles in the orchestration of this illegal operation, which reportedly ran for the past three years.
A national security concern
The gravity of this situation cannot be understated, as it poses a severe national security threat. The accused individuals not only engaged in forgery but also accessed sensitive government databases without authorization. This breach raises alarming questions about the safety and security of our nation’s vital information.
As investigations continue, authorities are diligently working to address the multifaceted issues stemming from this breach and to ensure that such vulnerabilities are not exploited in the future.
