Immigration authorities at Biju Patnaik International Airport arrested an Afghan national, Mohammad Yousaf alias Yaha Khan, for illegally residing in India using forged identity documents.
The arrest occurred after anomalies in his passport were flagged during routine verification.
The suspect had entered India in 2018 and had been living in Cuttack’s Petinmati area under a fabricated Indian identity. Investigations revealed he procured numerous official documents—including Aadhaar, PAN card, voter ID, and even a driving license—under the false name “Yaha Khan.” He reportedly used these to travel within India and possibly abroad.
The deception came to light when immigration officials, alerted by a Look-Out Circular issued from Kolkata Airport, matched his details with an original Afghan passport. The matter was escalated to the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissionerate and the National Investigation Agency (NIA), prompting a coordinated operation that led to the seizure of forged documents, mobile phones, foreign currency, and valuables.
Authorities are probing the extent of the identity fraud, including potential links with a wider document forgery racket. Sources suggest the accused may have received assistance from local agents. Additionally, three other Afghan nationals living in Cuttack have come under scrutiny for similar offences.
This arrest follows a similar incident in Guwahati, where Assam Police detained four Afghan nationals found living illegally. The NIA is actively investigating the case amid heightened concerns over national security and document integrity.
