OCI Card Holder Arrested for Voter Fraud and Misusing Government Schemes in Azamgarh
In a significant case of identity fraud and electoral malpractice, an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card holder has been arrested in Uttar Pradesh's Azamgarh district for illegally maintaining his name on the voter list and fraudulently availing benefits of several government schemes.
Details of the Fraudulent Activities
Mohammad Kuddus, 78, originally from Surai village under Nizamabad police station, had obtained Malaysian citizenship in 2016 under the name Mohammad Kuddus Bin Razzag Shah. Despite this, he continued to participate in Indian electoral processes and benefit from welfare programs meant for Indian citizens.
"Following detection of cheating and fraud committed by Kuddus, police arrested and sent him to jail after producing him before the court," stated Azamgarh SP Anil Kumar on Wednesday.
How the Fraud Was Executed
According to ASP Vivek Tripathi, Kuddus employed multiple deceptive tactics:
- Changed his name from Mohammad Kuddus to Mohammad Kuddus Bin Razzag Shah
- Altered his father's name from Ali Raza to Razzag Shah to facilitate Malaysian citizenship
- Used forged documents to obtain Malaysian citizenship while remaining registered as an Indian voter
- Submitted prescribed forms and documents through his son during the Summary Revision (SIR) process
- Returned from Malaysia to stay in his parental village to maintain his voter status
- Submitted an affidavit in February confirming his Indian citizenship despite holding an OCI card
Police recovered crucial evidence including his Aadhaar card, Malaysian passports, OCI card, and two mobile phones during the investigation.
Exploitation of Government Schemes
The investigation revealed that Kuddus had illegally availed benefits of government welfare programs by concealing his true citizenship status. Most notably, he had enrolled in and received payments from the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, which is specifically designed for Indian farmers.
This discovery prompted Nizamabad police to file a formal case against Kuddus on charges of cheating and forgery. Authorities are also investigating the role of his son in facilitating these fraudulent activities.
Background and Timeline
Kuddus had left his village for Malaysia with his father in the 1970s, where they established a restaurant business and eventually settled. While they built their lives abroad, their family remained in their ancestral village in Azamgarh.
The fraudulent activities came to light when authorities detected inconsistencies in his documentation during routine verification processes. The case highlights vulnerabilities in systems meant to verify citizenship and eligibility for government benefits.
Azamgarh: A Hub for Passport Fraud
This case is not isolated in Azamgarh district. Police records from just the past six months reveal a troubling pattern of document forgery for passport acquisition.
According to Azamgarh SP office records, twelve cases of seeking or obtaining passports using forged documents have been registered across multiple police stations including:
- Raunapar
- Rani ki Sarai
- Gambhirpur
- Nizamabad
- Ahraula
- Saraimir
- Phulpur
- Didarganj
- Maharajganj
Five accused individuals—Abdullah, Mohammad Abushad, Rizwan Ahmad, Pramod Kumar Gaur, and Jitendar—have been arrested in connection with these cases, while seven others remain absconding.
The modus operandi typically involves preparing forged documents and altering personal details such as name, address, and other identity-related information to illegally obtain passports.
This case underscores the need for enhanced verification mechanisms and inter-agency coordination to prevent such frauds that compromise both electoral integrity and the proper distribution of government welfare benefits.
