Akhtar Qutubuddin Hussaini’s long journey of deceit began in the mid-1990s. Coming from Jamshedpur in eastern India, his family’s life changed drastically after the death of his father in 1995. It was during this period that investigators believe Akhtar and his younger brother, Adil, started receiving funds from foreign sources.

Initially, the amount was in the “lakhs” of rupees, but by the early 2000s, it had increased to “crores.” These transactions are suspected to have been payments made in exchange for purported secret nuclear blueprints connected to the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and other sensitive nuclear facilities.

As the money flowed in, Akhtar began to construct an elaborate web of lies about his background and qualifications. He forged multiple personal documents and created a fabricated story linking his family to India’s nuclear establishment. In a handwritten biodata, he falsely claimed that one of his brothers was a “coordinator” at BARC’s nuclear group in 1995 and had participated in India’s 1998 Pokhran nuclear tests. However, this claim was completely false. In reality, none of his siblings had any association with BARC, a fact his family later confirmed in court. By forging degrees, certificates, and academic credentials, Akhtar managed to pose as a nuclear scientist, even though he had no genuine scientific education or background.

During the late 1990s, Akhtar travelled abroad and found work in the Middle East’s oil and marketing sector. This international exposure seems to have given him the opportunity to develop his covert activities. According to police sources, both brothers were already in touch with foreign agents during this time. In his later confession, Akhtar admitted that he had obtained a sensitive nuclear design from a Russian scientist and sold it to an Iranian agent connected to the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran. The money he received from this illicit deal was allegedly invested in real estate in Dubai. This pattern of receiving foreign funding and exchanging confidential information laid the foundation for what would later become a full-fledged espionage operation.

Dubai Arrest and Forgery Charges (2004)

Akhtar’s first major encounter with law enforcement came in 2004 and sent shockwaves through India’s security network. While working in Dubai, the 39-year-old was arrested by Dubai Police for allegedly attempting to sell “Indian nuclear secrets” to Arab diplomats. Following the arrest, he was immediately deported to India. Upon his return, Akhtar was detained and interrogated by Indian authorities for four consecutive days at Mumbai’s airport. The intelligence agencies considered it a national security emergency, given the possibility that he might have leaked nuclear-related information.

However, after exhaustive questioning, the investigators could not find any evidence that Akhtar had access to genuine classified data. The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and the Intelligence Bureau concluded that no state secrets had been compromised, and that Akhtar had no legitimate link to BARC’s operations. What initially appeared to be a serious case of espionage was soon revealed to be a story of exaggerated claims and deception.

Further investigation exposed a deeper web of forgery and fraud. Mumbai Police shifted their focus toward Akhtar’s fake documents and impersonations. Later that year, he was re-arrested in Mumbai on charges of cheating and forgery. Police discovered that Akhtar had been misusing titles — even calling himself “Captain” at one point — and was in possession of multiple fake identification cards. Among the items seized was a forged BARC identity card issued in the name of one of his brothers, who had no connection to BARC. Investigators also uncovered several fake academic certificates, including a college degree belonging to his wife.

In court, Akhtar’s family strongly denied any ties to India’s nuclear establishment, insisting that he was innocent and had been framed on “trumped-up” charges. Eventually, the authorities downgraded the 2004 case from espionage to forgery. The conclusion reached by the investigators was that Akhtar’s activities were more likely aimed at conning people for money rather than attempting to sell national secrets.

In the aftermath of the 2004 incident, security agencies took a cautious stance. Since the DAE confirmed that no classified material had leaked, no charges were filed under the Official Secrets Act. Officials at BARC also verified that neither Akhtar nor any of his family members had ever worked at the institution, confirming that his so-called “scientist” identity was completely fake. The police described him as a “clever conman who virtually indistinguishably forged BARC documents to dupe others.” He was prosecuted under forgery and fraud charges in Maharashtra but was later released on bail. Despite the exposure of his falsehoods, Akhtar was undeterred. Instead of giving up, he used this experience to return to his deceitful pursuits with even greater skill and sophistication.

Reinventing Himself as “Alexander Palmer” (2005–2010)

After his legal troubles in 2004, Akhtar Hussaini disappeared from public view, only to resurface a year later under a new identity. Around 2005, he created an entirely new persona — “Alexander Palmer,” a name that carried a Western tone and projected scientific credibility. Through this identity, Akhtar managed to deceive people for years, even obtaining at least three separate Indian passports in the name of Alexander Palmer. He also managed to acquire legitimate Indian identification documents such as an Aadhaar card, PAN card, and driving licence under the same false identity. These official documents were secured using forged birth certificates and fake educational records, giving his new alias a believable paper trail.

Using these documents, Akhtar successfully integrated himself into international scientific circles. He attended several seminars, energy conferences, and global meetings, often introducing himself as a scientist from BARC or as a “nuclear expert.” By all accounts, he could speak confidently about physics and technology, which made his claims appear credible. A Delhi Police officer later remarked that Akhtar had a deep fascination with espionage and science and “often introduced himself as a secret agent or nuclear expert” during this period.

Operating under his false identity, Akhtar travelled extensively across Asia and the Middle East, allegedly searching for potential buyers of sensitive information. Meanwhile, he continued to forge educational qualifications in the name of Alexander Palmer. When his residence was raided years later, the police discovered numerous fake marksheets and degree certificates, including fabricated documents for a B.Sc., B.Tech, and even an MBA. He also created forged letters showing employment at various companies to strengthen his credibility.

By the end of the 2000s, the once-disgraced man from Jamshedpur had successfully “bought” himself a new life through fake paperwork. The name Alexander Palmer allowed him to operate freely and move in circles far removed from his real past. What began as a desperate act of deceit in the 1990s had now evolved into a sophisticated international con, setting the stage for even more serious developments in the following decade.

Expanding the Network of Deception: The Rise of a Global Spy Operation (2010–2020)

Through the 2010s, Akhtar Hussaini, now living under the name “Dr. Alexander Palmer,” continued his dangerous double life. Outwardly, he appeared to be an oil industry professional and consultant. But behind this façade, he was running a secret network that dealt in fake passports, confidential contacts, and the sale of sensitive information. Indian authorities now believe that by this time, the two Hussaini brothers were operating a full-fledged fake passport racket and international spy network. Adil Hussaini, who had stayed out of public attention since the 2004 forgery case, quietly helped his older brother from India. His job was to procure forged identity documents and manage local contacts who assisted their operations.

A major base of their activities remained their old hometown of Jamshedpur in Jharkhand. Although the family’s ancestral house in Azad Nagar had been sold back in 1996, the brothers continued using the address for illegal purposes. Investigators from the Mumbai Crime Branch later revealed that a local accomplice named Munazzil Khan supplied them with a steady stream of fake passports and identity cards. Khan cleverly used the address of the long-sold Jamshedpur house, which still existed in old records, to issue fraudulent documents. Two Indian passports were obtained illegally for Adil through this address—one under the name “Hussaini Mohammad Adil” and another as “Nasimuddin Syed Adil Hussaini.” Both were aliases supported by matching identity proofs, allowing Adil to travel abroad under different names, much like Akhtar did as “Alexander Palmer.”

The police found that the brothers had frequently travelled abroad, including several visits to Pakistan and Gulf countries, using these forged documents. All signs indicated that their purpose was not casual business but espionage. Sources disclosed that Adil remained in close contact with nuclear scientists and foreign associates, possibly to seek buyers for classified data. Meanwhile, Akhtar’s frequent foreign visits raised serious concerns. He travelled to Iran and the UAE, and even returned to Dubai despite having been deported years earlier—likely using one of his false identities. During this decade, Indian intelligence agencies began quietly monitoring his movements. Surveillance reports showed that Akhtar made numerous international calls, which investigators later suspected were communications with foreign handlers or buyers involved in the illegal trade of information.

By the early 2020s, the Hussaini brothers had reportedly received large sums of money from foreign entities. Investigators discovered that they had been bankrolled since at least 1995, with payments rising from a few lakh rupees to several crores after 2000. The funds were routed through hidden channels and kept in various bank accounts under different names. One private bank account in Akhtar’s name showed unusually high and suspicious transactions, while others were later closed to conceal their financial trail. Police believe the money was paid in exchange for technical documents, blueprints, and possibly fake or modified data that Akhtar presented as insider knowledge from India’s nuclear centres. Some of these “clients” are suspected to have included Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI, considering the brothers’ repeated travels to Pakistan and their efforts to build links there.

By 2025, Indian intelligence officials were convinced that this was no longer a simple con game—it had evolved into a serious espionage operation with international reach.

The Fall of the Network: Arrests and Exposure (2025)

The elaborate scheme finally collapsed in October 2025, when police operations in Mumbai and Delhi uncovered the decades-long fraud. Acting on a tip-off from central intelligence agencies tracking suspicious communications, the Mumbai Police Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) raided Akhtar’s residence in Versova, Mumbai, on October 17, 2025. The 60-year-old, who had lived under several fake names for years, was taken by surprise. During the raid, police found a massive collection of forged materials, including two fake BARC identity cards (one in the name “Alexander Palmer” and another as “Ali Reza Hussain”), several fake educational certificates, multiple passports, mobile phones, pen drives, and 14 detailed maps showing layouts of sensitive installations and nuclear-related facilities.

These maps, some marked with technical annotations and diagrams, were immediately sent for forensic analysis to determine whether they contained real classified information. Investigators also discovered digital evidence showing that Akhtar had recently reached out to foreign contacts. His call records revealed multiple international communications, strengthening the suspicion that he had been in active contact with overseas handlers. The arrest was carried out in coordination with India’s top counterintelligence agencies, including the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), given the possibility of espionage. Akhtar, still insisting he was a scientist, was arrested and presented before court. He was first remanded to police custody for interrogation and later placed under judicial custody as the investigation expanded.

The arrest shocked the security establishment. Photos from late October 2025 showed Akhtar being escorted by Crime Branch officers into court, ending his decades of deceit. What had started as a story of fake identities and academic fraud had now revealed a potential national security breach.

At the same time, in Delhi, Adil Hussaini was also cornered. After Akhtar’s arrest, the Delhi Police Special Cell—an anti-terror unit—acted swiftly to detain him. On October 29, 2025, the 59-year-old was arrested from his house in Seemapuri, East Delhi. Officials later disclosed that Adil had been trying to establish contact with a senior BARC official on behalf of Pakistan’s ISI, which may have accelerated the crackdown. When the police searched his premises, they found one genuine Indian passport and two forged passports. Investigators confirmed that Adil had travelled to Pakistan multiple times and had also visited Gulf nations using these fake identities.

During initial interrogation, Akhtar tried to mislead investigators by claiming that his entire family, including Adil, was dead. However, this lie was quickly exposed when Delhi Police confirmed that Adil was alive and already in their custody. Investigators described the joint arrests of the brothers as the dismantling of a “major espionage network.”

A third suspect, Munazzil Khan—the Jamshedpur man who supplied the fake passports and IDs—was arrested on October 30, 2025. The 52-year-old forger was found with equipment and documents linking him directly to the Hussaini brothers. Police also identified Iliyas Khan, Munazzil’s brother, as another key conspirator who allegedly forged the fake degrees and educational documents used by Akhtar. Iliyas has been missing since and is believed to be hiding. Investigators even detained a café operator suspected of helping the group by arranging meetings or facilitating secret communication.

Authorities from both Mumbai and Delhi continued examining the seized material. The 14 maps and documents found at Akhtar’s flat included layouts of restricted nuclear installations. Experts from the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) found that several of the drawings were fabricated and did not correspond to any real facilities, suggesting that Hussaini may have altered or created false blueprints to trick potential buyers. Still, a portion of the material appeared genuine enough to raise national security alarms.

The Aftermath: Official Reactions and Legal Proceedings

The discovery of this decades-long espionage and forgery network drew strong responses from Indian authorities. A Delhi Police spokesperson confirmed that “the brothers have supplied sensitive information to foreign countries” and had obtained several Indian passports through forgery. Another officer said, “We suspect the brothers have connections with nuclear and defence agencies abroad and may have shared sensitive data.”

Investigators now believe the brothers were working under the direction of Pakistan’s ISI and perhaps other international handlers. They pointed to Adil’s earlier sale of nuclear-related designs to Iran and Akhtar’s dealings with Russian contacts as evidence of a broader foreign network. Senior officials from the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and other counterintelligence units are now overseeing the probe, which one officer described as a “larger nuclear espionage network” under active investigation.

Officials from BARC and the DAE have assured the public that neither Akhtar nor Adil ever worked for BARC, and that all identity cards used were fake. One DAE officer said, “It appears to be a case of impersonation. No breach of BARC’s internal security has been detected so far.” The department is helping police examine the seized materials to confirm whether any authentic documents are missing from its archives.

In Mumbai, Akhtar Hussaini faces charges of criminal impersonation, forgery, and cheating under the Indian Penal Code and the Passports Act. He has been placed in judicial custody until November 12, 2025, while investigations continue. In Delhi, Adil has been charged with criminal conspiracy, forgery, and the use of fake documents, and was sent to seven days of police custody. Although no Official Secrets Act charges have yet been added, officials say these will be invoked if forensic tests confirm that any of the recovered maps contain classified data.

Investigators are also tracing the money trail behind the operation. They have demanded detailed bank transaction records to track the flow of foreign funds dating back to the 1990s. Initial findings show that some money was routed through Middle Eastern accounts. The brothers are also believed to have closed several bank accounts recently, possibly to erase evidence.

As of late 2025, the case has become one of India’s most significant examples of forgery meeting espionage. What started as a small lie by a man pretending to be a scientist has grown into a case spanning three decades, multiple countries, and potential breaches of national security. The government has ordered a review of security measures at key installations, while investigators work to ensure that every piece of evidence—from fake passports to forged IDs—is used to bring the accused to justice.