Meerut Police File Case Against Mother-Daughter Duo for Alleged Illegal Stay
In a significant development in Meerut, authorities at the Delhi Gate police station have registered a formal case against a woman and her daughter for allegedly residing in India for an extended period without obtaining Indian citizenship. This action follows a detailed police inquiry initiated based on a complaint lodged by a local resident, with investigations currently ongoing to verify the allegations.
Details of the Complaint and Allegations
According to the complainant, Rukhsana, the woman identified as Farhat Masood traveled to Pakistan in 1988 and subsequently married a Pakistani national named Saba, also known as Naji, who is now 56 years old. It is alleged that Saba later entered India and, in 1993, brought their daughter Aiman Farhat, now 33, into the country using a Pakistani passport. Aiman was born in Pakistan, and the complaint asserts that she never acquired Indian citizenship.
The complaint further accuses the mother and daughter of procuring various identity documents through forged papers and utilizing these documents for travel purposes. In a more serious allegation, Rukhsana claimed that Saba's relatives have connections with Pakistan's intelligence agency, ISI, and expressed suspicions that the duo may have gathered sensitive information from key locations across India.
Police Response and Legal Framework
Senior Police Officer Ayush Vikram Singh, the SP (City) of Meerut, stated, "On the basis of a preliminary inquiry, a case has been filed and Saba Masood has been arrested. Investigation is on about other allegations, and action will be taken accordingly." The case has been registered under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including:
- Section 318(4) for cheating
- Section 336(3) for forgery
- Section 340(2) for using forged documents as genuine
- Section 351 for criminal intimidation
Family's Defense and Counterarguments
The family has vehemently refuted all charges. Faraz Farhat, Aiman's brother and the lawyer representing the family, provided a detailed explanation. He stated, "My mother traveled to Pakistan when she was eight months pregnant. She was supposed to return before delivery but experienced labor pains in the eighth month, leading to Aiman's premature birth. The mother could not return without the infant, and the Indian consulate granted permission for travel."
Regarding citizenship, Faraz argued, "As per Section 3 of the Indian Citizenship Act, a child's citizenship is determined by the father's citizenship. Therefore, Aiman automatically becomes an Indian citizen." He dismissed the allegations of ISI links as "baseless."
Background and Context of the Case
Notably, this issue has historical context. In 2019, a report highlighted how Saba Farhat had been awaiting Indian citizenship for 27 years after her marriage to a Meerut man. Family sources suggest that the current case may be linked to an internal family dispute over the legacy of Nadir Ali, a pioneer in Meerut's renowned band industry. This dispute could have prompted the filing of the complaint, adding a layer of complexity to the legal proceedings.
The case underscores ongoing challenges related to citizenship and documentation in India, with authorities emphasizing the importance of legal compliance while the family stresses their right to citizenship based on existing laws. As investigations continue, the outcome will likely have implications for similar cases involving citizenship and residency issues.
