A youth from Jharkhand was detained in Coonoor after he allegedly produced a forged Indian Army identity card and claimed to be an Army training officer associated with the Wellington Military College. Police have launched an investigation into his identity, movements and the circumstances surrounding the creation and use of the fake document, as reported in Organiser.
The incident came to light on 25 August 2026 after the youth approached Hariharan, Nilgiris district secretary of Hindu Munnani, who manages a parking lot in Coonoor, and reportedly asked to charge his mobile phone.
Hariharan became suspicious after noticing that the man appeared to be an outsider and questioned him about his identity and background.
The youth reportedly identified himself as Usman and said he was from Madanpur in Jharkhand. He claimed that he was involved in training officers at the Wellington Military College and produced what he claimed was an Indian Army identity card.
However, when Hariharan asked him to show his Aadhaar card, discrepancies were reportedly found between the two documents. The Aadhaar card carried the name Usman Ladin, while the Army identity card reportedly bore the name Tajmul.
His responses to questions about his identity and activities were also reportedly inconsistent. Suspecting that the documents were forged, Hariharan detained him and handed him over to the police.
Army Verifies ID As Fake
Army personnel subsequently examined the identity card and reportedly confirmed that it was fake. Police registered a case against the youth for allegedly possessing and attempting to use a forged military identification document.
The incident has attracted attention because Coonoor is located near the strategically sensitive Wellington Military Cantonment. The military establishment houses the Madras Regimental Centre and the Defence Services Staff College.
A police team led by DSP Ravi questioned the youth as part of the investigation.
During interrogation, he reportedly told the police that he had been staying in the Old Hospital area of Coonoor for around two months at a friend’s residence. He also reportedly stated that he was not employed anywhere in the town.
Fake Army ID Allegedly Created Using AI
According to the report, the youth told investigators that he had created the fake identity card using artificial intelligence technology.
Police have also reportedly found records indicating his alleged involvement in theft cases and other offences.
Local sources identified him as an artisan originally from Jharkhand.
The police are now examining why he created and attempted to use a forged Army identity card, particularly in the vicinity of a sensitive military establishment. Investigators are also looking into whether anyone assisted, instructed or otherwise facilitated the creation of the document.
His movements are being examined to determine whether he had travelled to or stayed in other parts of Tamil Nadu or elsewhere in the country.
After the case was registered, the youth was produced before a magistrate and remanded to judicial custody at Coonoor jail.
Probe Into Possible Wider Links
Hindu Munnani has called for a detailed investigation into the incident, including whether the forged identity card was connected to any wider attempt to gain access to or gather information about defence establishments.
போலி இராணுவ அடையாள அட்டையுடன் மு**லீம் வாலிபர் குன்னூரில் கைது!
சதித்திட்டமா? என போலிசார் விசாரணை!!
குன்னூரில் நேற்று கார் பார்க்கிங் நிர்வாகி இந்துமுன்னணி மாவட்ட செயலாளர் ஹரி அவர்களிடம், செல்போன் சார்ஜ் போட ஒருவர் அணுகினார். அவரை விசாரித்த போது ஜார்கண்ட் மாநிலம் மதன்பூரை… pic.twitter.com/zL6KQziorB
— Hindu Munnani (@hindumunnani_tn) August 26, 2026
The organisation has also demanded that investigators conduct a background check to determine whether other individuals were involved in the episode.
Hindu Munnani questioned how a person allegedly carrying a forged Army identity card could remain in the vicinity of a sensitive military establishment without being detected earlier. It credited the alertness of its functionary, Hariharan, for bringing the matter to the attention of the police.
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