Karnataka High Court Refuses To Quash Arrest Of Photocopy Shop-Owner Accused Of Making Fake Aadhaar Cards For Bangladeshi Nationals

The Karnataka High Court on Monday (June 1) refused to entertain a plea challenging the arrest of a photocopy shop owner accused of creating fake Aadhaar and PAN cards for alleged illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.

The single judge bench of Justice M Nagaprasanna, while permitting the petitioner to withdraw the plea, graned him liberty to approach the trial court for bail.

During the hearing the court orally said:

“…Fake Aadhaar card creation, you are the one destroying everything, giving it to people who are not Indians. How many people are you going to let in... Everyone has an aadhaar card today. Why? Because of you. Have some concern for the nation...Every person who is not a citizen of this country has an Aadhaar card because of people like you, and it becomes the foundation of every right they claim to have. How much vigil can the State display if matters are going on like these?”

The petitioner who hails from West Bengal owns a photocopy shop Bengaluru, before he was arrested in November 2024 after a police raid. The prosecution alleged that the raid led to the seizure of fake rental agreements, fake seals, Aadhar card application in various names etc., for the purpose of creating fraudulent documents for Bangladeshi immigrants.

An FIR was registered by the Police after Mondal's arrest and he was charged for offences under Sections 336(2), 336(3) (forgery) 340(2) (fraudulently or dishonestly using a forged document or electronic record as genuine)BNS; Sections 34, 35, 36 of the Aadhaar Act, 2016; Sections 14 and 14(A) of the Foreigners Act; and Section 12(1)(A)(a)(b) of the Indian Passport Act.

Today, Mondal's counsel argued before the court that he had undergone half of the maximum sentence by being in custody since 2024, and also invoked Section 479 of BNSS, claiming he was entitled for release. Advocate Rakshit R, appearing for Mondal, also emphasised that Sections 14 and 14(A) of the Foreigners Act won't be applicable at all in the current case since it only applies to foreigners illegally entering India or staying in India by violating Visa conditions.

The Court, however, dismissed the petition, reserving liberty for the petitioner to seek bail before the trial court.

The court thereafter in its order dictated:

“…The counsel for the petitioner argued the matter at length and sought leave to withdraw the petition and avail remedy of enlarging on bail before the trial court on the ground that he has undergone half of the sentence by being in custody. Reserving the liberty to the petitioner, the said petition stands dismissed.”

The trial court had previously rejected his bail application on February 14, 2025 followed by the Karnataka High Court rejecting yet another bail application by Mondal on June 20, 2025.

Case Title: Arnab Mondal v. State of Karnataka & Ors

Case No: CRL.P 15929/2025