MUMBAI — A significant national security scare unfolded in Mumbai last week after police arrested a man posing as a scientist from the prestigious Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), recovering potentially sensitive nuclear data and more than a dozen maps from his possession.
​The suspect, identified as Akhtar Qutubuddin Hussaini, was apprehended in Versova. The Mumbai Police’s crucial development in the case focuses on examining the recovered documents to determine if they contain any confidential nuclear information.
​A Web of Fake Identities
​Hussaini operated under a complex web of aliases. Authorities seized multiple fake passports, Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, and forged BARC identification documents. His fake BARC IDs identified him variously as “Ali Raza Hussain” and “Alexander Palmer,” underscoring the depth of his deception.
​Investigators have discovered that Hussaini has a long history of identity manipulation. In 2004, he was deported from Dubai after making claims of being a “scientist possessing classified documents.” Even following his deportation, he managed to travel to international destinations, including Dubai and Tehran, using forged passports.
​International Link Suspected
​The gravity of the situation escalated as police traced several international calls made by Hussaini over the past few months. Sources indicate that authorities now suspect he was in contact with foreign networks that could be linked to the recovered nuclear data. Call records are being traced as part of a wider investigation into potential espionage.
​Further investigation has led to the arrest of Hussaini’s brother, Adil Hussaini, by Delhi Police, who is suspected of facilitating his brother’s access to forged documents. Two accomplices involved in providing fake passports and educational certificates, Munazzil Khan and Ilyas Khan, have also been identified, with Ilyas Khan currently declared wanted.
