CRPF defends dismissal of constable over secret marriage to Pakistani national

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has defended in the Jammu & Kashmir High Court its decision to dismiss a constable, accusing him of grave misconduct for secretly marrying a Pakistani national, forging her signature on a nikahnama, and concealing her expired visa status.

In a counter-affidavit filed before the High Court, the CRPF stated that Munir Ahmed not only failed to inform his superiors about his marriage to Pakistani citizen Menal Khan but also hid her overstay in India after her tourist visa expired. The force maintained that his actions constituted a serious breach of discipline and posed a potential national security risk.

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“Being a member of the force, he harboured a Pakistani national in India, who was on a short-term visa, and also married her without informing the authorities concerned—amounting to grave misconduct,” noted the dismissal order issued on May 2.

The CRPF further alleged that the marriage document, or nikahnama, bore a forged signature of Menal Khan and was dated at a time when she was in Pakistan, casting further doubt on the authenticity of the union. The force argued that such concealment was especially serious given Munir’s access to sensitive information as serving personnel.

According to the affidavit, Menal Khan entered India on a tourist visa in February 2025. Munir allegedly failed to disclose her presence or her subsequent application for a Long Term Visa (LTV) to his superiors. Matters escalated in the wake of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 civilians, prompting the government to issue orders for all Pakistani nationals to leave the country within 48 hours.

The CRPF said Munir took six days’ leave during this critical period, without disclosing that his wife was among those ordered to be deported. Her deportation was stayed by the Jammu & Kashmir High Court on April 27—just minutes before she was to be sent to Pakistan through the Attari border checkpoint.

Munir has challenged his dismissal in court, citing his service record, previous communication with CRPF officials regarding his personal circumstances, and letters from BJP Members of Parliament supporting visa relief for his wife.

However, the CRPF has maintained that the case goes beyond internal service rules and touches upon national security concerns, given Pakistan’s status as a hostile nation.

The Jammu & Kashmir High Court is scheduled to hear the matter on Friday.