Man Acquitted of Forged Residence Permit Charges After 15-Year Legal Battle

On October 4, 2025, a sessions court in Mumbai acquitted a 34-year-old man, Hardik Patel, of charges related to the use of a forged British Residence Permit. The case dates back to 2010 when Patel, then 20 years old, arrived at Mumbai's airport on a flight from London. An immigration officer had suspected the residence permit in Patel's passport was forged, leading to his apprehension and the registration of an FIR.

In 2021, a magistrate's court had found Patel guilty and sentenced him to a year's imprisonment. However, the sessions court has now overturned this verdict, stating that the magistrate failed to appreciate the evidence correctly and came to the wrong conclusion. The judge noted that Patel had successfully cleared immigration at London Airport, implying the alleged forgery was "not visible by naked eye" and weakening the prosecution's argument.

The prosecution's case had heavily relied on a report from the British High Commission stating the residence permit was "counterfeit." But the court ruled this report inadmissible, as the author was not examined in court to prove its contents. The defense had argued that Patel was unaware the document was forged and had engaged a solicitor to extend the permit, which was about to expire.

After a 15-year legal battle, the sessions court has now acquitted Hardik Patel, finding the evidence against him insufficient to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.