Mumbai police arrest fake scientist with access to confidential nuclear data, traveled abroad with fake passports
PTC News Desk: In a significant development in arrest of a fake scientist at the country's premier nuclear research unit, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai police have recovered suspicious nuclear data and 14 maps from the suspect. The documents are being scrutinised to determine if they contain any sensitive or confidential data.
Akhtar Qutubuddin Hussaini was arrested in Versova last week for impersonating a scientist and using multiple aliases. Police recovered several fake documents from him, including passports, Aadhaar and PAN cards, and forged BARC identity cards. One ID listed his name as Ali Raza Hussain, while another identified him as Alexander Palmer.
Investigators found that Hussaini had made several international phone calls in recent months, and his call records are now being examined. Police suspect that he may have been in contact with foreign networks possibly linked to sensitive nuclear data.
The probe has uncovered Hussaini’s long history of identity changes and deception. In 2004, he was deported from Dubai after falsely claiming to be a scientist with access to classified information. Despite the deportation, he reportedly travelled again to Dubai, Tehran, and other countries using fake passports.
Authorities also discovered that a Jharkhand resident, Munazzil Khan, allegedly forged two passports for Hussaini’s brother. The addresses on these passports were traced to a house in Jamshedpur that had been sold nearly 30 years ago, after the death of Akhtar’s father. The forged passports were in the names Hussaini Mohammad Adil and Nasimuddin Syed Adil Hussaini. Police believe both Akhtar and his brother Adil used these fake identities for international travel.
Sources said that Adil Hussaini was recently arrested by Delhi Police and is suspected of introducing Akhtar to Munazzil Khan. During interrogation, Akhtar falsely claimed his brother had died, apparently to mislead investigators.
The probe has also revealed the involvement of Munazzil Khan’s brother, Ilyas Khan, who is now wanted by the police. Ilyas is accused of supplying Akhtar Hussaini with forged educational documents, including fake school and college certificates.
- PTC NEWS
