MNS displays fake PAN card in minister’s name

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena legislator Bala Nandgaonkar exhibited a fake personal account number (PAN) card issued in the name of a minister of the ruling coalition on Tuesday.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena legislator Bala Nandgaonkar exhibited a fake personal account number (PAN) card issued in the name of a minister of the ruling coalition on Tuesday.

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In a bid to drive home the point made by MNS chief Raj Thackeray about proper permits for migrants, Nandgaonkar flashed before journalists the bogus card, purportedly issued in the name of Satej Patil, minister of state for home. “This is a PAN card which bears the name of (minister) Satej Patil. For only Rs400 you can get such a PAN card issued in anybody's name. You can get it near CBD-Belapur,” Nandgaonkar said, referring to the IT department’s headquarters in Navi Mumbai.

Nandgaonkar, himself a former minister of state for home, said that “it is a very serious issue” and urged the government to look into it.

“Since an important official identity proof like this can be misused, MNS president Raj Thackeray has been demanding a proper permit system for people in Mumbai,” he said.

Nandgaonkar contended that besides migrants from other states, even illegal Bangladeshi or Pakistani nationals easily manage to get some identity proof to live unchecked in Mumbai.