Nepali Family Of 3, Living In Mumbai With Fake Ids Since Two Decades
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Immigration officers, while checking their phones, found details and documents on their phones, including property and land records, indicating their origins in Nepal.
A Nepali family of three, who had been living in Mumbai for over two decades using forged voter ID, Aadhaar, and PAN cards, was arrested at the airport on Saturday while they were trying to board a flight to Kathmandu.
The police reported that Gautam Khadaka (49), his wife Nirmala (47), and their son Gagan (22), a college student, had previously travelled to Nepal multiple times by road and train. No suspicion was raised as there are no restrictions for Nepali nationals entering India through official borders.
However, their plan to travel by air for a holiday led to their arrest.
During the investigation, Gautam allegedly confessed to obtaining the forged ID documents in 2001.
'The trio were set to depart for Kathmandu at 11 pm but were intercepted by immigration officers after presenting Indian voter ID cards as identification along with their boarding passes," said a Sahar police officer, reported The Times Of India.
'Initially, Gagan was stopped during the immigration check, prompting officials to detain the entire family. When questioned about their identity and nationality, the Khadakas admitted they are Nepali nationals who have been living in Mumbai for over two decades."
Immigration officers, while checking their phones, found details and documents on their phones, including property and land records, indicating their origins in Nepal.
Upon investigating, Gautam admitted to entering India at the age of 14 through the Indo-Nepal border in 1990. Reportedly, Gautam first came to Borivli and took on odd jobs for a living. In 2001, he married in Nepal and brought his wife to Mumbai; they moved to Mahim where they started a tea and fast-food stall.
They then fraudulently acquired voter ID, Aadhaar, and PAN cards. Gagan was born in Mumbai in 2003, completed his schooling in the city, and is currently in college.
The police have charged the couple and their son under BNS sections 318 (cheating), which carries imprisonment for seven years and a fine; 336 (2) (forgery), which carries imprisonment for two years and a fine; 336 (3) (forgery of electronic record), which carries imprisonment for seven years and a fine; and 340 (2) (forged document or electronic record and using it as genuine), a cognisable offence triable by a magistrate.
First Published:
June 17, 2025, 14:57 IST
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