Authorities in Uttar Pradesh have initiated a major legal action against a woman accused of being a Pakistani citizen who allegedly concealed her true nationality to obtain a government teaching position. The Rampur police registered a First Information Report (FIR) on Thursday based on a departmental inquiry that uncovered the purported deception.
Forgery and Cheating Charges Filed
According to Rampur Additional Superintendent of Police Anurag Singh, the case targets a woman identified as Mahira Akhtar, also known as Farzana. The police official stated that an internal probe by the state's Basic Education Department revealed she secured employment by submitting counterfeit documents. The FIR has been registered under Sections 318(4), 336, 338, and 340 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which pertain to charges of cheating and forgery.
"It is alleged that despite being a Pakistani national, she obtained a job in the education department by using a fake residence certificate," Singh informed the Press Trust of India (PTI). The accused had been working as a teacher at a primary school located in Kumhariya village in the district.
A Cross-Border Marital History
Police investigations have pieced together a timeline spanning decades. The authorities claim that Mahira Akhtar married a Pakistani national in 1979 and subsequently acquired Pakistani citizenship herself. Following her divorce, she is alleged to have returned to India around 1985 on a Pakistani passport.
Around the same time, she married a local man in India. Police allege that she then proceeded to join the Uttar Pradesh Basic Education Department, projecting herself as an Indian citizen throughout the process. Her alleged actions allowed her to hold the government teaching post for years.
Suspension and Ongoing Probe
Upon the discovery of the discrepancies, the education department took swift administrative action. The accused teacher has been suspended and subsequently dismissed from service. The police FIR was formally registered based on the findings and report submitted by the department.
An investigation is currently underway, with officers collecting evidence related to the case of forgery and identity concealment. As of now, no arrests have been made in connection with the FIR. The case highlights concerns over document verification processes for government employment, especially in sensitive sectors like education.
