- Delhi Police busted an inter-state racket forging fake government ID documents online
- Two accused, Bideshi Saw and Santosh Kumar, were arrested from Daman & Diu and Patna
- The website bkprint.in generated fake Aadhaar, voter ID, PAN, and other certificates
A Delhi Police Special Cell team has busted an inter-state racket allegedly involved in forging and selling fake government identity documents through the website bkprint.in, officials said. Two accused - identified as Bideshi Saw and Santosh Kumar - were arrested from Daman & Diu and Patna, respectively.
According to Delhi Police, the website offered fake Aadhaar cards, voter ID cards, PAN-related documents, residence certificates, caste certificates, birth and death certificates and other government document-like records in exchange for online payments.
Police said the forged documents closely resembled genuine government records and could misused for identity theft, impersonation, financial fraud, cheating, and even to obtain authentic government documents through fraudulent means.
Investigation Began During Cyber Patrolling
The investigation began after the Intelligence Fusion & Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit, during routine cyber patrolling and social media monitoring, came across information that forged government documents were being sold through the website.
To verify the information, police created a dummy user account and recharged the website's digital wallet with R 100 using the UPI ID displayed on the platform. Investigators said they were then able to generate fake Aadhaar and voter ID cards by entering fictitious personal details and uploading a photograph.
A technical examination later revealed that the QR code printed on the fake Aadhaar card merely stored the information entered by the user and was not linked to any official Aadhaar database, confirming that the document was forged.
Payment Trail Led To Arrests
Police said the payment trail led investigators to Bideshi Saw, whose mobile number and UPI account were allegedly linked to the website. He was arrested from Daman & Diu.
During interrogation, Saw disclosed that while he handled the website's operations, payments and customer coordination, the backend infrastructure was designed and maintained by Santosh Kumar, a resident of Patna.
Based on technical evidence, Delhi Police tracked Kumar to Bihar, where he was arrested. A preliminary forensic examination of his digital devices allegedly recovered the website's source code, hosting details, customer database, payment records and chats with the co-accused, indicating his role in developing and maintaining the platform.
How The Alleged Racket Operated
According to investigators, customers were first required to recharge a digital wallet on the website before placing an order. Users could then enter any personal details and upload photographs to generate forged identity documents.
The website also generated QR codes that appeared authentic but only stored user-entered information, making the forged documents resemble genuine government-issued IDs.
During the operation, police recovered laptops, mobile phones, digital payment records, website source code, customer databases, hosting details and documents related to bkprint.in and bkprint.xyz.
Police said Bideshi Saw managed the website's operations and online payments while Santosh Kumar designed and maintained the website, enabling the generation of forged documents.
Investigation Continues
Delhi Police said the investigation is ongoing to identify other members of the network, trace the proceeds of crime, analyse the customer database and identify individuals who may have procured or misused the forged documents.
Police have also appealed to the public not to purchase or use forged government documents and to immediately report any suspicious websites or online platforms involved in the preparation or sale of fake identity documents.
Expert Flags Need For Stronger Cyber Regulations
Cyber law expert and advocate Viraj Gupta said the case highlights the growing misuse of online platforms to create forged identity documents.
He said the government should consider a whitelisting mechanism for websites and applications dealing with sensitive public services and ensure that all platforms operating in India comply with prescribed government guidelines.
Gupta also called for stricter enforcement of cyber laws and swift action to identify and shut down platforms facilitating such offences. He noted that existing legal provisions prescribe punishments ranging from two to twelve years depending on the nature and gravity of the offence.
SIR Exercise Brings Added Significance
The timing of the investigation has drawn attention as the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise places renewed emphasis on identity verification for electoral rolls.
While the alleged fake document racket raises broader concerns about the authenticity of identity documents, there is no evidence at this stage linking the accused or the forged documents to the SIR process.
Delhi Police are now attempting to determine the full extent of the racket, identify all beneficiaries and ascertain whether the forged documents were used in any larger criminal or fraudulent activity.
Even without a direct connection to the ongoing SIR exercise, the case underscores the importance of robust identity verification at a time when government-issued identity documents are under increased scrutiny.
