Man held for altering Aadhaar, PAN card details; charged ₹300 to change date of birth

A 36-year-old was arrested for altering Aadhaar and PAN cards by changing photographs, dates of birth, names, addresses and other details in Pahadishareef, Hyderabad.

The accused, Ch. Mahadev, a resident of Jalpally, ran a photocopy centre, Kavitha A to Z Online Services, in Budwel. He installed online software to make unauthorised changes to identity documents and carried out the activity from his residence in Sriram Colony, Jalpally.

Mahadev charged ₹300 for changing the date of birth on an Aadhaar card and ₹700 to ₹1,000 for changing all details. Police said customers used the altered documents to obtain mobile phone SIM cards, for government schemes, and bag private jobs at factories in and around Hyderabad.

Based on credible information, Hyderabad Police Commissioner’s Task Force, Shamshabad Zone, along with Pahadishareef police, apprehended Mahadev and seized ₹5,000 in cash, 60 fake or altered Aadhaar cards, two PAN cards, a laptop, printer, lamination machine and a mobile phone.

The accused, who had studied up to Class VII, told investigators that he took up the activity to earn easy money as his photocopy centre earnings were not sufficient to support his family. The accused and the seized material were handed over to Pahadishareef police for further action.