In a significant crackdown on identity fraud, the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested a Bangladeshi woman, Nargis Akhtar, who had been living in Lucknow under the alias Nirmala Devi. Alongside her, her husband, Hariom Anand, has also been taken into custody for allegedly facilitating her acquisition of fake Indian documents and aiding in fraudulent activities.
Lucknow, UP: Bangladeshi national Nargis Akhtar arrested for living as Nirmala Devi and Jasmine using fake Aadhaar cards.
As per ATS, she entered India illegally, obtained three fake IDs from local agent for cash, caught in Thakurganj rented house.
Agent also arrested, probe… pic.twitter.com/cpkHSqFMng
— Angry Saffron (@AngrySaffron) November 30, 2025
Nargis Akhtar, originally from Jalikothi, Bangladesh, reportedly entered India on a tourist visa in 2010. Over the years, she assumed multiple identities, the first being “Jessica Biswas” when she obtained a fraudulent Aadhaar card in West Bengal. In 2022, she met Hariom Anand in Lucknow, who helped her secure Indian documents under the name Nirmala Devi. Later that year, the couple married, presenting themselves as a regular married pair in the local community.
Authorities discovered that Nargis had amassed a range of fake documents, including two Aadhaar cards under different names, bank passbooks, an income certificate, a vehicle registration certificate, a debit card, and a ration card. She had also purchased a scooter and a car in 2023 using these fraudulent documents. Mobile phone records revealed multiple Bangladeshi contacts and even a Bangladeshi residence certificate, suggesting connections beyond India.
Investigations indicate that Hariom Anand may have helped multiple Bangladeshi women acquire Indian identity documents, pointing to a wider network of forgery and document fraud. Both Nargis and Hariom are now under police custody, and authorities are probing the full scope of their activities, including possible involvement in anti-national operations or illegal migration.
This case underscores significant vulnerabilities in India’s identity verification system. Despite biometric checks and official protocols, individuals have found ways to obtain multiple identities and integrate deeply into local communities, exploiting loopholes for personal and financial gain. The ATS continues its investigation to determine the extent of the network and the number of fraudulent documents issued across states.
The arrest of Nargis Akhtar and Hariom Anand highlights the challenges law enforcement faces in preventing document fraud and maintaining the integrity of identity systems, particularly in border areas and regions with high migration.
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