A 60-year-old man arrested for posing as a scientist from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) allegedly received crores of rupees in foreign funds over nearly three decades in exchange for classified nuclear information, according to sources in the Mumbai Police Crime Branch.
The accused, Akhtar Hussaini, a resident of Jamshedpur in Jharkhand, was arrested last month for impersonating a senior BARC scientist and travelling across the country under multiple fake identities. Police said Hussaini’s activities had gone undetected for years, during which he is suspected to have shared sensitive nuclear data and maps with foreign handlers.
Fake IDs, Maps, and Classified Data Seized
Investigators recovered over 10 maps and documents purportedly related to nuclear weapons and atomic plants from Hussaini’s possession. Several fake identity documents were also found, including multiple passports, Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, and a forged BARC identity card.
One of the seized IDs identified him as Ali Raza Hussain, while another listed him as Alexander Palmer.
Hussaini’s brother, Adil, was later arrested in Delhi for assisting him in creating and maintaining these forged identities, police said.
Foreign Funding Trail Since 1995
According to Crime Branch sources, the Hussaini brothers had been receiving foreign funds since 1995. Initially, payments were made in lakhs of rupees, but after the year 2000, the amounts escalated to crores.
Police believe the brothers received the money in exchange for secret blueprints and sensitive data related to BARC and other nuclear installations in India.
Suspicious Bank Transactions and Closed Accounts
During the investigation, officers found a private bank account in Akhtar Hussaini’s name that had shown unusually large deposits and international transfers. The Crime Branch has sought complete transaction details from the concerned bank to determine the source and total volume of funds received.
Police have also discovered that the brothers closed several other accounts after certain transactions, allegedly to cover their financial trail. Old account records are now being re-examined to map the full money flow and identify possible foreign links.
Possible Pakistan Connection
Investigators suspect that Akhtar and Adil may have visited Pakistan and developed links with the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Police believe that their long-running espionage operation involved multiple aliases and foreign trips, which are now under verification through immigration records.
History of Deception and Deportation
According to sources, Akhtar had been changing identities and living under disguise for decades. In 2004, he was deported from Dubai after authorities there discovered he had falsely claimed to be a “scientist possessing classified documents.”
Records show that Akhtar sold his ancestral property in Jharkhand in 1996, but continued to obtain fake documents using his old local contacts. His brother Adil later introduced him to a Jharkhand resident named Munazzil Khan, who allegedly helped the duo procure two fake passports — one in the name of Hussaini Mohammad Adil and another as Nasimuddin Syed Adil Hussaini.
The address used on both passports was that of their former house in Jamshedpur, which had been sold nearly 30 years ago.
International Probe Underway
Police believe the forged documents were used for foreign travel and possible data transfers. Investigators are now working with intelligence agencies to trace their movements abroad and determine whether any classified information was leaked to foreign entities.
The Mumbai Police Crime Branch is expected to share its findings with central intelligence agencies as the case involves potential breach of national security and cross-border espionage.
Both Akhtar and Adil Hussaini remain in police custody as investigations continue into what authorities are calling one of the most elaborate espionage frauds uncovered in recent years.
(Source: NDTV)
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