The Mumbai Police have arrested Akhtar Hussaini, a 60-year-old man who allegedly posed as a Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) scientist and received millions in foreign funding over nearly three decades. His brother, Adil Hussaini, accused of forging documents and managing overseas transactions, was also detained.
According to officials, Akhtar Hussaini, a resident of Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, was apprehended last week from Versova’s Yari Road in Mumbai. Authorities seized over 10 maps and purported nuclear data, multiple fake passports, Aadhaar and PAN cards, and a forged BARC identity card. Some IDs carried aliases such as Ali Raza Hussain and Alexander Palmer.
The Mumbai Crime Branch stated that the duo started receiving foreign funds in 1995, initially in small amounts and later escalating to millions after 2000. Investigators are probing the source of the funding, the authenticity of documents, and potential connections to foreign agencies.
Police have emphasized that the case highlights the risks of identity fraud and misuse of scientific credentials to secure illicit funds. Further investigations are ongoing to uncover the full extent of the scam.
