Man Arrested at Mumbai Airport for Attempting to Travel with Fake Passport

Mumbai: A 50-year-old man, Sohail Hassan, was arrested at Mumbai International Airport on March 1 for attempting to board a flight to Abu Dhabi using a fake passport. The Sahar police have registered an FIR against him under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita and the Passport Act.

According to police sources, Hassan arrived at the airport in the evening, intending to travel on an IndiGo flight (6E-1401) to Abu Dhabi, scheduled to depart at 7:40 pm. At 5:00 pm, he presented his Indian passport, UAE visa, and boarding pass at the immigration counter for verification. However, the immigration officer grew suspicious when he noticed that Hassan appeared much older than the 40-year-old age mentioned on the passport. Concerned about the discrepancy, the officer escalated the matter to his senior.

Upon further investigation by the wing incharge, it was revealed that Hassan had obtained the passport from the Patna passport office in 2022 using false personal information. In the same year, he had traveled to Thailand for a job but was deported back to India. In 2023, he reportedly acquired another passport under a different identity using fabricated details.

The immigration officer subsequently filed a case against Hassan at the Sahar police station. The charges include Sections 318(4) (cheating), 336(2) and 336(3) (forgery), and 340(2) (forged document or electronic record and using it as genuine) under the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita, along with Section 12 (fake passport) of the Passport Act.

Sahar police have initiated further investigations, and Hassan is currently in police custody. Authorities are exploring the extent of his fraudulent activities and whether he has been involved in similar cases in the past.

The incident raises serious concerns about the security checks at major airports and the use of fake documents to bypass immigration controls. Authorities have assured that they are working to strengthen security measures to prevent such fraudulent activities.