A 32-year-old Afghan national, Delawar Khan Menzai, was arrested at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai after he attempted to board a flight to the United Arab Emirates using a forged passport, authorities confirmed on Friday.
According to the Sahar Police, Menzai had entered India in 2016 on a medical visa, but did not return to Afghanistan after his permitted stay expired. Instead, he allegedly managed to forge a new passport under the name “Ali Mahmood Khan” in Mumbai by October 2017.
His suspicious travel history raised red flags with an alert immigration officer during routine checks at the airport, prompting a closer investigation. Upon verifying the documents, authorities confirmed the passport was fake, leading to his immediate arrest.
Menzai has been charged under the Passport Act as well as relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act for forgery, impersonation, and cheating. He remains in police custody as the investigation continues.
