# Fake Indian identities helped Bangladeshi nationals obtain passports from a single Gwalior address, STF finds

> Madhya Pradesh's STF has busted a gang accused of using forged Aadhaar, voter ID and other documents to get Indian passports issued for Bangladeshi nationals, with nearly 70 passports now under investigation.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Madhya Pradesh · **Published:** 2026-09-08 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/madhya-pradesh/gwalior-ke-eka-pate-se-bangladeshi-nagarikon-ko-milate-rahe-bharatiya-pasaporta-stf-ki-jancha-men-chaunkane-vala-khulasa-29461 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Bangladeshi nationals, passport fraud, STF, Madhya Pradesh, Gwalior, Dabra, fake documents, Rahul Lodha

A passport fraud racket has come to light in Madhya Pradesh, with investigators saying a gang built fake paper identities for Bangladeshi nationals and then used those identities to obtain genuine Indian passports in their names. The state police's Special Task Force (STF) is now tracing how far the network spread, and the trail so far leads back to a single address in the Dabra tehsil of Gwalior district that keeps showing up across the case. The case also raises fresh questions about how closely identity documents are checked before a passport is cleared, since each of these passports had already gone through the verification process built into the system.

## A full paper trail was forged, not just one document
Officers investigating the case say the accused did not stop at faking a single certificate. They allegedly built an entire identity on paper, an Aadhaar card, a voter ID card, a residence certificate and even a 10th class marksheet, so that a foreign national would appear, on record, to be someone who had lived in India for years. Once this paper identity was in place, it became the basis on which passport applications were filed and cleared. The STF says that the more it digs into the case, the wider the scale of the fraud appears to be. That such basic documents, ordinarily used by any Indian citizen to prove identity and address, could be forged and accepted underlines how big a loophole the gang appears to have exploited.

## Close to 70 passports now under the scanner
Early findings suggest that roughly 70 passports were issued on the strength of forged documents linked to different addresses connected to this case. Of these, 20 are tied specifically to Bangladeshi nationals whose documents carried the address of a Buddhist monastery, Buddh Vihar, located in Dabra. Every one of these 20 passports lists the same person as witness, Riyal Chaudhary. Investigators are working to identify everyone who played a role, from forging the paperwork to steering the applications through the passport office.

## Some of the fraudulent passports are nearly five years old
According to the officers handling the case, the 20 passports connected to the Dabra address were issued close to five years ago, which means this route may have been in use for a considerable stretch before it was caught. Beyond these, 44 more passports have now been pulled into the investigation, pushing the total count higher still. The STF is trying to establish exactly how many people obtained an Indian identity this way, and at what level the racket was actually being run, using the documents and records that have surfaced so far.

## Two held so far, the rest of the gang still being traced
The STF has arrested two people in the case to date. Their questioning is being used to identify other members of the gang and understand what part each of them played in the operation. Investigators are also checking whether people at the local level helped put these fake identities together, and separately, whether there was any collusion or carelessness inside the passport issuing system that allowed the fraud to go through unchecked for so long.

## Possible international network now part of the probe
Given how serious the case appears, the STF is also examining whether a larger international network sits behind it, one that may have been helping Bangladeshi nationals acquire Indian documents and passports on a wider scale. A passport gives its holder access to international travel and a legally recognised identity, so any racket built around forging citizenship credentials carries security implications well beyond the individuals directly involved. The inquiry is being led by STF Deputy Inspector General Rahul Lodha, and officials indicate that further arrests are likely in the days ahead as questioning of the two men in custody continues and more documents linked to the case are examined.

## What this means for you
The case is likely to tighten scrutiny around passport and identity document verification more broadly.

- **Across India:** Following this exposure, documents like Aadhaar, voter ID and residence certificates submitted with passport applications could face closer checks. New applicants may see extra questions or delays during police verification as a result.
- **In Gwalior and Madhya Pradesh:** The Dabra address and witness name that turned up repeatedly in this case could trigger a fresh review of older documents and passport records linked to that area. Anyone who obtained a passport or identity document from there during this period may also face questioning.
- **Caution around being a witness:** Anyone signing as a witness on an official document should verify its authenticity first, since a name appearing on forged paperwork can invite legal trouble.
- **Effect on the process:** Until the STF's investigation concludes, passport verification in areas connected to the case may take longer than usual.

## Why this happened
The fraud worked by copying the kind of documents that genuine Indian citizens use to prove their identity, and preparing similar forged papers in the names of foreign nationals instead.

- **Forged paperwork:** Basic documents such as Aadhaar cards, voter IDs, residence certificates and even 10th class marksheets were faked to make Bangladeshi nationals appear as Indian citizens on record.
- **The same address and witness reused repeatedly:** The Buddh Vihar address in Dabra and the same witness name, Riyal Chaudhary, appearing on multiple passports allowed investigators to spot the pattern, suggesting the operation was run in an organised way.
- **It went undetected for years:** Several of these passports were issued roughly five years ago, meaning the method was likely in use for a long stretch before it was caught.
- **Possible system lapses still being checked:** The STF is also examining whether there was any collusion or negligence within the passport issuing process, though this has not been confirmed yet.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. Which address is at the centre of this fraud?
The case is linked to documents that used the address of a Buddhist monastery, Buddh Vihar, in Dabra tehsil of Gwalior district.

### 2. How many passports are under investigation in total?
Around 70 passports are under the scanner, of which 20 are linked to Bangladeshi nationals, and 44 more have now been added to the probe.

### 3. Whose name appears as witness on these passports?
All 20 passports linked to Bangladeshi nationals list the same witness, Riyal Chaudhary.

### 4. What fake documents were prepared for these 20 passports?
Forged Aadhaar cards, voter IDs, residence certificates and 10th class marksheets were used to build the fake identities.

### 5. How many people have been arrested so far?
The STF has arrested two people in the case so far, and is searching for other members of the gang.

### 6. Who is leading the investigation?
The probe is being led by STF Deputy Inspector General Rahul Lodha.

### 7. When were the Dabra-linked passports issued?
According to investigating officers, those 20 passports were issued roughly five years ago.

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