Bengaluru: A 33-year-old Nepali national was arrested with an Indian voter ID at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) while attempting to fly to Kathmandu. The incident took place on Saturday evening when the accused, identified as Rames Bhadur Bandari, tried to board Nepal Airlines flight RA 226.
Rames, a resident of Yelahanka, reached Terminal 2 at 4 PM and presented an Indian voter ID card to Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel at the departure gate, gaining entry without issue. However, at the immigration counter, when asked about his travel plans, he claimed to be a Nepali citizen, raising immediate red flags.
According to a complaint filed by immigration officer Shailendra Kumar Meena, Rames admitted during questioning that he had been living in India for 13 years and had acquired the Indian voter ID with help from touts. He also possessed a Nepali ID, confirming his foreign nationality.
A senior police officer stated that Rames works as a security guard at the tahsildar’s office in Yelahanka. “We are investigating whether he participated in any elections using the forged ID. He said he was traveling to Nepal because his mother was unwell,” the officer noted.
Rames has been booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Sections 336 (forgery) and 340 (use of forged document or electronic record as genuine). He was arrested and is currently in police custody.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about the use of forged documents for international travel and security vulnerabilities at public institutions.
