This is an archive article published on July 23, 2015
Kerala: NRI applies for Aadhaar card for cat, police register case
The case was registered against Azeez Abdulla, an NRI from Kasargode, and a lady staff of an Akshaya centre, an IT-enabled services delivery centre, in the Kasaragod district.
Police said the case was registered against Azeez Abdulla, an NRI from Kasargode, and a lady staff of an Akshaya centre, an IT-enabled services delivery centre, in the district.
Police have registered a criminal case against an NRI and an employee of an IT-based services delivery centre on charges of applying Aadhaar card for a cat. The incident was reported from Kasaragod district on Wednesday.
Police said they acted upon a complaint from the Unique Identification Authority of India, after its officials at the regional centre in Bangalore noticed that a photo of a cat had been uploaded in the Aadhaar application form. The officials had noticed the photo of the pet animal while processing the application for issuing the card.
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Police said the case was registered against Azeez Abdulla, an NRI from Kasargode, and a lady staff of an Akshaya centre, an IT-enabled services delivery centre, in the district.
Abdulla wanted to take his Persian cat to Gulf, where he is employed. He was advised by a travel agent in Kasaragod that the cat should carry some valid documents. Hence, he decided to apply for an Aadhaar card for his pet animal. The lady staff at the Akshaya centre accepted the application form for the cat, which was given a fake name. Its photo was uploaded and other formalities were completed.
Police sources said after Abdulla got some queries from the officials regarding the application of the cat, he had tendered an apology addressed to the State IT Mission Director.
Police said the alleged accused have claimed they had tried to get an Aadhaar card for the cat due to their ignorance. They have not been arrested so far. The duo would face charges under IPC sections of 465(forgery), 468(forgery for the purpose of cheating) and 471 (using as genuine a forged document).
Shaju Philip is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, where he leads the publication's coverage from Kerala. With over 25 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political, religious, and developmental landscape of South India.
Expertise, Experience, and Authority
Decades of Regional Specialization: Shaju has spent more than two decades documenting the "Kerala Model" of development, its complex communal dynamics, and its high-stakes political environment.
Key Coverage Beats: His extensive reporting portfolio includes:
Political & Governance Analysis: In-depth tracking of the LDF and UDF coalitions, the growth of the BJP in the state, and the intricate workings of the Kerala administration.
Crime & Investigative Journalism: Noted for his coverage of high-profile cases such as the gold smuggling probe, political killings, and the state’s counter-terrorism efforts regarding radicalization modules.
Crisis Management: He has led ground-level reporting during major regional crises, including the devastating 2018 floods, the Nipah virus outbreaks, and the Covid-19 pandemic response. ... Read More
Police said the case was registered against Azeez Abdulla, an NRI from Kasargode, and a lady staff of an Akshaya centre, an IT-enabled services delivery centre, in the district.
