Four Pakistani Nationals Arrested in Bengaluru for Fraudulent Identities

In a significant development, four Pakistani nationals were arrested on the outskirts of Bengaluru. The suspects include 48-year-old Rashid Ali Siddiki, his 38-year-old wife Aisha, and her parents, 73-year-old Hanif and 61-year-old Rabina. They had been residing in Rajapura Village under false identities, adopting Hindu names such as Shankar Sharma, Asha Rani, Ram Babu Sharma, and Rani Sharma.

The arrests were made following intelligence inputs that led to the detention of two Pakistani nationals at Chennai International Airport. These individuals were discovered with fake passports and later revealed to be relatives of Siddiki. Further investigations pointed authorities to Bengaluru, where Siddiki and his family were living.

When police arrived at their residence, the family was preparing to flee. Siddiki initially presented fake Indian passports and Aadhaar cards under their assumed names. However, upon further questioning, he admitted that they were originally from Pakistan—Siddiki hailing from Karachi and his wife and in-laws from Lahore. They had entered India illegally due to a series of events that forced them to leave Pakistan and later Bangladesh.

Siddiki explained that he married Aisha online in 2011 while she was in Bangladesh. Following religious persecution faced by members of the Mahi Foundation in Pakistan, Siddiki fled to Bangladesh, only to encounter similar threats there in 2014. This prompted him to contact Perves, a man from the Mahi Foundation in India, who assisted Siddiki and his family in crossing into India illegally via Malda in West Bengal.

Upon entering India, Siddiki and his family first settled in Delhi, where they acquired forged Indian documents, including Aadhaar cards, passports, and driving licenses, assuming new identities as the Sharma family. Siddiki began a new life and preached on behalf of the Mahi Foundation, which helped cover his expenses.

In 2018, during a visit to Nepal, Siddiki met two residents from Bengaluru, Wasim and Alaf, who invited him to move to the city to continue his preaching activities. Siddiki relocated with his family to Bengaluru, where they lived in Rajapura Village. Alaf covered the rent while the Mahi Foundation paid Siddiki for his shows on Alra TV, a YouTube channel promoting Sufism. Additionally, Siddiki earned money by selling oils to garages and food items.

The Mahi Foundation International promotes the teachings of Unas Alohar, a spiritual leader advocating for religious harmony and Sufism. The foundation aims to de-radicalize Muslim youth by promoting peaceful religious practices. However, members of the Mahi Foundation, including Siddiki, have faced religious persecution in countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh due to their unorthodox beliefs.

A case has been filed against Siddiki and his family under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including Section 420 for cheating, Section 468 for forgery, and Section 471 for using a forged document. They have also been charged under sections of the Passport Act for obtaining fake documents and illegal entry into India.