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Mumbai man impersonating BARC scientist held after decades of fraud
Updated On: 18 December, 2025 08:16 AM IST | Mumbai | Anish Patil
Investigation reveals foreign funding, extensive overseas travel, and over two decades of criminal impersonation involving sensitive sites, forged IDs, and elaborate fake credentials

The housing society in Versova, where Akhtar Hussain Qutubuddin Ahmed resided with his wife, and nine-year-old son. Pic/Ashish Raje
Akhtar Qutubuddin Husaini Ahmed, also known as Alexander Palmer, arrested in Versova for impersonating a BARC nuclear scientist, allegedly spent over two decades living as a behrupiya, posing under multiple identities across three major criminal cases.
First case
Ahmed’s criminal trail first emerged in 2003 in Meerut, where he was among 11 accused in a case registered at Kanker Kheda police station. During the investigation, he claimed involvement in exercises at three to four sensitive sites, including the Akshardham temple, though authorities are still verifying these claims. A Look Out Circular was later issued, and in 2011, he was intercepted at an airport — his alleged involvement coming to light for the first time.
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