Two Pakistani nationals have been arrested in Karnataka's Chikkaballapur district for allegedly obtaining Indian voter identity cards and ration cards by suppressing their Pakistani nationality, police said on Sunday.
The arrests come at a time when the Karnataka government's proposal to empower tahsildars to issue Permanent Residence Certificates (PRCs) has sparked a political controversy, with the BJP raising concerns over potential misuse by illegal immigrants.
The accused have been identified as Farah Naz and her son Mohammed Fardeen, both Pakistani nationals residing with their family in Bagepalli in Chikkaballapur district.
According to police, Mohammed Ayub Khan, a native of Bagepalli, married Farah Naz while working in the United Arab Emirates. The couple has four children, of whom Mohammed Fardeen was born in Pakistan. While Ayub Khan and the couple's other children are Indian citizens, Farah Naz and Fardeen remain Pakistani nationals.
Acting on credible information, police launched an inquiry and found that the two had allegedly obtained Indian ration cards and voter identity cards without acquiring Indian citizenship. Following verification, the district administration cancelled both documents after concluding that they had been secured by concealing material facts relating to nationality.
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Based on a complaint filed by Bagepalli Tahsildar Manisha N. Patri, police registered a case under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Foreigners Act and the Representation of the People Act. Both accused were arrested and further investigation is underway.
Investigators are also probing how the official documents were issued and whether any government officials or intermediaries played a role in facilitating the process.
The arrests have added a fresh dimension to the ongoing political debate over the Karnataka government's proposal to issue Permanent Residence Certificates through tahsildars. The BJP has alleged that the move could enable illegal immigrants from neighbouring countries to obtain official documents, posing a national security risk.
The Congress government, however, has rejected the allegations. Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge has maintained that PRCs would be issued only after thorough verification and are intended to establish residency for access to welfare schemes, education and employment. He has emphasised that the certificates do not confer citizenship, which falls exclusively under the jurisdiction of the Union government.
Police said further investigation is underway to determine whether similar cases exist and to identify anyone involved in the alleged procurement of the documents.
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