The accused in the Aadhaar card forgery case in police custody

AHMEDABAD: When Sola police investigators questioned Nilesh Mistry, 36, who was caught from his residence in Sector 6 of Chanakyapuri in Chandlodia on Wednesday evening, they were surprised to learn that Mistry not only faked Aadhaar cards for those volunteering for clinical trials, but himself volunteered for trials.

Sources said that Mistry claims to have volunteered in clinical trials for past nine months to earn some extra money to supplement his earnings.

“It was during his tours to different trial facilities that he met a group of youths volunteering for clinical trials. It is believed that he has made over 100 fake Aadhar cards for other volunteers to beat the three-month guideline where they cannot appear for other drug trials,” said an investigator.

“Primary questioning revealed that Mistry is a software engineer. During the 2007-08 economic slump he lost his job. He used to earn about Rs 35,000 at that time,” said an investigator.

“From then onward, it was downward spiral for him. He worked for a government organization on contract for about five years, and later joined a private firm. He was earning about Rs 15,000 in his last job in 2015, after which he started freelancing,” the investigator said.

“Members of his peer group have appeared for clinical trials in companies based in Gota, Dholka, Ambli, Changodar, Prahladnagar, Thaltej and Vadodara. It is yet to be ascertained whether he had any role in connecting the youths from different states with the companies,” said an investigator.

“As of now, we got to know of the two pharma companies’ trial facilities where he used to volunteer,” the investigator said.

How Aadhaar cards were faked

Investigators said Mistry used to take a photograph of the original Aadhaar card, upload it on his computer, change the name and sometimes the number of the card and then get its printout on good paper. He would also get it laminated to give it the look of an original. The trick worked, as according to his claim, except a few companies, none went for verification of the card number.

