SC Denies Bail To SP MLA Irfan Solanki In Aadhaar Card Forgery Case
The Supreme Court has dismissed the bail plea of Samajwadi Party legislator (MLA) Irfan Solanki, on Wednesday, who is facing charges in a Aadhaar card forgery case. The decision comes after a plea challenging the Allahabad High Court’s rejection of his bail application on July 6 earlier the year.
Solanki, represented by senior advocate Siddhartha Dave and advocate on record Pallavi Sharma, argued that he was being unfairly targeted due to his political standing as a minority figure in Uttar Pradesh. He asserted that this particular FIR marked the 14th instance of what he perceived as politically motivated prosecutions. Solanki pointed out that five previous false FIRs had resulted in favourable closure reports, while in four others, he was granted bail without any violations of the conditions.
The allegations against Solanki is related to a forgery of an Aadhaar card belonging to a co-accused. It is claimed, as per agency reports, that this falsified document was used by Solanki to board an Indigo Flight from New Delhi to Mumbai on November 11, 2022, in an attempt to evade arrest in connection with another ongoing case. However, Solanki maintains that there is insufficient evidence linking him to the forged Aadhaar Card or proving that he used it for travel.
Despite these arguments, the High Court upheld the charges against Solanki, emphasising his alleged role in the forgery of the Aadhaar Card and its subsequent use for travel. The court’s decision was criticised by Solanki and his legal team, who contended that such conclusions were premature and lacked finality, especially considering the ongoing investigation.
Of the nine accused named in the FIR, two have been dropped from the charges, while the remaining six co-accused were granted bail by the High Court. This further underscores the complexity and evolving nature of the case.The Uttar Pradesh government strongly opposed Solanki’s bail, citing evidence that he and others involved in the case had used fake Aadhaar cards and other documents for air travel following the alleged crime.
