Cops to match DNA of Maharashtra BJP secretary Hyder Azam’s wife with that of ‘parents’

A DNA test will be done to ascertain if Khan is the Nalanda-based couple’s daughter. Representation pic

In a high-profile case involving allegations of fake nationality, the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) of Mumbai Crime Branch will conduct a DNA test to ascertain the nationality of Reshma Khan, wife of Maharashtra BJP secretary Hyder Azam. Following allegations that Khan was a Bangladeshi national, cops have decided to compare the DNA samples of Khan with a couple from Bihar, who she claims are her parents.

The allegations about her nationality came to the fore in 2017 after a special branch found that the birth certificate used to procure her passport was forged. However, no cases were filed at that time. Later in 2020, the government asked DG Sanjay Pandey, who was heading the Home Guard then, to probe the matter. Following Pandey's report in October 2020, a case was registered against Khan on October 1, 2021. Two police officers - the then senior inspector of Malwani police station who retired last year, and an ADG-rank officer who was the then joint commissioner of Mumbai Police (law and order) - were also booked for not registering a case against Khan even after it was certified that her birth certificate was forged.

"When an enquiry was conducted in 2017 by the Special branch, they only got a letter from the local corporation that no such record [of the birth certificate] exists. This time we again sent our team and the local corporation has given in writing that the birth certificate is forged," said a senior officer of Mumbai Crime Branch.

The CIU have recorded Khan's statements twice. Khan has claimed that she was born in Nalanda district of Bihar and that her parents still live there. Following this, a police team went to Bihar and traced her parents. CIU has found the documents of her mother and grandmother to be genuine while that of her father is still under verification.

"Whatever claims she has made will be thoroughly examined. As we cannot rely on statements alone, we are going to do a DNA test to ascertain if her claims are true or not," the officer added.

"We have been saying from day one that she was born in Nalanda, Bihar and we have urged before the court that the entire family is ready for the DNA test. The Bangladeshi nationality angle was added due to the political pressure," Khan's lawyer, advocate Milan Desai, told mid-day.

The sessions court granted interim relief to her last year in December which is valid till the court passes order on her anticipatory bail plea, which is expected today.