Pakistani spy in Bengal used co-accused's father's name to forge Indian ID cards
Synopsis
A Pakistani national lived undetected in Kolkata for over a decade by stealing a co-accused's father's identity to forge Aadhaar, PAN, and voter ID cards — and was allegedly one ISI-issued passport away from completing his cover. The SIR electoral revision exercise, not routine policing, broke the plot open.
Key Takeaways
Wahab Alam , a Pakistani national, was arrested in Habra, North 24 Parganas , West Bengal.
He allegedly used the identity of co-accused Mohammad Izaz's father to fraudulently obtain an Aadhaar card , PAN card , and EPIC card .
Alam reportedly entered India illegally through Nepal in 2012 and lived in Topsia, East Kolkata .
He was allegedly assigned by Pakistan's ISI to gather intelligence on the Indian Army, Navy, and Railways in the eastern sector.
He used multiple prepaid SIM cards — destroyed after limited use — to contact ISI handlers in Pakistan.
His arrest was triggered by the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, which flagged his documents under 'logical discrepancy'.
A Pakistani national arrested in Habra, West Bengal, had fraudulently obtained Indian identity documents by using the name of his co-accused's father, an investigation by the Special Task Force (STF) has revealed. The accused, Wahab Alam, who allegedly entered India illegally in 2012, is also suspected of working as an agent for Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), tasked with gathering sensitive information on the Indian Army, Navy, and Railways in the eastern sector.
How Alam Forged Indian Identity Documents
According to the STF investigation, Alam stayed for an extended period at the residence of Mohammad Izaz in Topsia, East Kolkata, after crossing into India illegally via Nepal in 2012. He reportedly used documents belonging to Izaz's father to fraudulently obtain an Aadhaar card, a PAN card, and an EPIC card — all of which list Izaz's father as Alam's own father.
Investigators believe Alam's ultimate objective was to leverage these forged documents to secure an Indian passport, which would have effectively completed his cover as an Indian citizen. That plan was reportedly foiled by the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise conducted in West Bengal.
How the SIR Exercise Led to His Arrest
Flagged under the 'logical discrepancy' category during the SIR exercise, Alam was summoned for a verification hearing before a booth level officer (BLO). Sensing that his cover was at risk, he failed to appear and instead fled to Habra in North 24 Parganas district, where he was subsequently arrested. Investigators believe he was attempting to cross into Bangladesh through the international border in North 24 Parganas, which lies in close proximity to Habra.
ISI Links and Intelligence-Gathering Assignments
The probe has established that Alam was allegedly assigned by the ISI to collect intelligence on Indian military and strategic infrastructure in the country's eastern sector. He first entered India through Nepal, where he had reportedly become acquainted with Izaz at a mosque.
Investigators also found that Alam maintained contact with his ISI handlers in Pakistan using multiple prepaid mobile SIM cards, all procured using his forged Indian identity documents. Notably, he reportedly destroyed each SIM card after a limited number of communications and replaced it with a fresh one — a tradecraft technique designed to evade surveillance.
Nepal's Role in the Network
According to the investigation, Nepal served as a critical transit and operational base for Alam throughout his alleged espionage activities. He reportedly owns a small franchise business there and, during his stay in Haldia, is said to have made frequent trips to Nepal. Investigators believe Nepal was the entry point and a recurring operational hub in his broader plot to infiltrate and operate within West Bengal.
What Happens Next
The STF is continuing its investigation into the full extent of Alam's alleged intelligence network and the role played by co-accused Mohammad Izaz. Authorities are expected to examine how Alam's forged documents passed through official verification systems undetected for over a decade, raising broader questions about identity-document security in border states.
Point of View
Obtained three separate government-issued identity proofs, and was reportedly weeks away from an Indian passport. It was an electoral roll revision exercise — not intelligence agencies — that broke his cover, which raises uncomfortable questions about how identity verification silos between Aadhaar, PAN, and EPIC databases allowed the same fraudulent parentage claim to pass three separate checks. The ISI angle and the use of Nepal as a transit hub also signal a well-worn infiltration corridor that warrants a harder look at cross-border movement patterns in the eastern sector.
NationPress
13 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Wahab Alam and why was he arrested?
Wahab Alam is a Pakistani national arrested in Habra, West Bengal, for allegedly entering India illegally in 2012 and obtaining forged Indian identity documents. He is also suspected of working as an ISI agent tasked with gathering intelligence on Indian military and strategic infrastructure in the eastern sector.
How did Wahab Alam obtain fake Indian identity documents?
According to the STF investigation, Alam used the identity of his co-accused Mohammad Izaz's father to fraudulently secure an Aadhaar card, a PAN card, and an EPIC (voter ID) card. All three documents list Izaz's father as Alam's own father.
What role did the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise play in his arrest?
The SIR exercise flagged Alam's electoral documents under the 'logical discrepancy' category, prompting a summons for a verification hearing. When Alam failed to appear, he effectively confirmed suspicion, leading investigators to track and arrest him in Habra.
What was Alam's alleged mission for the ISI?
According to investigators, Alam was allegedly assigned by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to collect information about the Indian Army, Navy, and Railways in the eastern sector of the country. He reportedly used disposable prepaid SIM cards to communicate with his ISI handlers.
What is the significance of Nepal in this case?
Nepal reportedly served as both Alam's original entry point into India in 2012 and an ongoing operational base. He is said to own a small franchise business there and made frequent trips to Nepal during his stay in Haldia, suggesting the country was a key node in his alleged espionage network.
