Uzbek woman held at Bihar's India-Nepal border with forged Aadhaar card
Synopsis
A Uzbek national allegedly lived in Mumbai for a year under a false identity, obtained a forged Aadhaar card, and was caught trying to slip into Nepal at the Raxaul border — exposing a potential gap in India's biometric enrolment safeguards and raising questions about who helped her stay undetected.
Key Takeaways
Bozorova Shakarjon , a citizen of Uzbekistan , was arrested by the SSB at the Raxaul Maitri Bridge , Bihar, on 16 July 2026 .
A forged Indian Aadhaar card was recovered from her possession, confirmed by SHO Kishan Kumar Paswan .
She held a valid Uzbek passport reportedly valid until October 2029 but allegedly lacked a valid Indian visa.
Preliminary investigation suggests she lived in Mumbai for nearly a year under an assumed identity before attempting to cross into Nepal.
The case is being probed under the Passport Act , visa regulations, and other applicable laws; investigators are tracing her alleged facilitators.
Security forces at the India–Nepal border in Raxaul, Bihar, arrested a Uzbek national on 16 July 2026 after she was allegedly found carrying a forged Indian Aadhaar card while attempting to cross into Nepal. The suspect, identified as Bozorova Shakarjon, was intercepted by personnel of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) during routine checks near the Raxaul Maitri Bridge.
How the Arrest Unfolded
SSB personnel on evening patrol on 16 July 2026 flagged Bozorova Shakarjon after her movements appeared suspicious near the border crossing. On questioning, she presented a valid Uzbek passport, reportedly valid until October 2029, but investigators allege she did not hold a valid Indian visa authorising her continued stay in the country.
A forged Indian Aadhaar card was recovered from her possession, according to Haraiya Station House Officer Kishan Kumar Paswan, who confirmed the find. The SSB subsequently handed her over to the Haraiya Police Station in East Champaran district for further legal proceedings.
A Year in Mumbai Under an Assumed Identity
Preliminary investigation suggests that Bozorova Shakarjon had been living in Mumbai for nearly a year with an Indian acquaintance. During this period, investigators allege she assumed a different identity, obtained forged documents, and secured an Aadhaar card through fraudulent means — a serious breach of India's biometric identity infrastructure.
Authorities believe she was attempting to exit India via Nepal when she was intercepted. The case raises questions about how a foreign national allegedly managed to enrol in the Aadhaar system — which is meant to be restricted to Indian residents — without detection.
What the SHO Said
'A forged Indian Aadhaar card has also been recovered from the woman,' SHO Kishan Kumar Paswan said, confirming the core charge against her.
A case is being investigated under relevant provisions of the Passport Act, visa regulations, and other applicable laws governing foreign nationals in India.
Probe Expands to Identify Facilitators
Investigating agencies are now working to establish who helped Bozorova Shakarjon obtain the forged Aadhaar card, who facilitated her alleged illegal stay in India, and whether a wider network was involved in preparing counterfeit identity documents. Authorities are also examining her contacts, activities, and possible associates across India.
This comes amid heightened scrutiny of India's porous border crossings and growing concerns about the misuse of the Aadhaar ecosystem by undocumented foreign nationals. The case is likely to prompt a review of enrolment safeguards by identity authorities.
Point of View
The failure lies upstream of the border, not at it. The SSB intercept was the last line of defence, not the first. Investigators must answer how Aadhaar enrolment checks failed to flag a non-resident alien, and whether this is an isolated case or part of a pattern. The Nepal exit route also suggests the suspect may have been aware that detection at an airport was more likely — a detail worth examining.
NationPress
18 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Bozorova Shakarjon and why was she arrested?
Bozorova Shakarjon is a Uzbek national arrested by the SSB at the Raxaul Maitri Bridge in Bihar on 16 July 2026. She was allegedly attempting to cross into Nepal while carrying a forged Indian Aadhaar card and reportedly lacked a valid Indian visa.
What is the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and what role did it play?
The Sashastra Seema Bal is India's border-guarding force responsible for the India–Nepal and India–Bhutan frontiers. SSB personnel conducting routine checks at Raxaul intercepted Bozorova Shakarjon after her movements appeared suspicious, leading to her arrest and handover to local police.
How did the suspect allegedly obtain a forged Aadhaar card?
According to preliminary investigation, Bozorova Shakarjon had been living in Mumbai for nearly a year with an Indian acquaintance. During that period, investigators allege she assumed a false identity and obtained a forged Aadhaar card through fraudulent means, though the exact method is still under investigation.
What charges is she facing?
A case is being investigated under relevant provisions of the Passport Act, visa regulations, and other applicable laws governing foreign nationals in India. Authorities are also probing who facilitated her alleged illegal stay and the procurement of forged documents.
What are investigators trying to establish now?
Agencies are working to identify who helped her obtain the forged Aadhaar card, who facilitated her alleged unlawful stay in India, and whether a wider network was involved in producing counterfeit identity documents. Her contacts and activities across India are also being examined.
