Bengaluru: How many illegal foreign nationals are living in Karnataka? Many would assume the number runs into thousands or even lakhs. However, official data provided by the state Home Department pegs the figure at just 485, a number that sharply contrasts with widespread perceptions and internal estimates shared by senior officials.
According to the Home Department, a total of 485 illegal foreign nationals have been identified across Karnataka so far. Of them, 308 have already been deported, while 177 are currently in judicial custody.
Some of these individuals are being housed at the state’s lone detention centre for foreigners. Officials said many among the 177 had been staying in the state using forged documents, including fake Aadhaar cards.
Police have registered cases against five individuals accused of facilitating the creation of fake Aadhaar cards. In total, 51 cases have been registered in connection with illegal foreign nationals.
A significant concentration has been found in Bengaluru. Of the 485 identified across the state, as many as 344 were traced to the state capital alone. Areas such as Hennur, Nagawara, Whitefield, Electronic City and the city’s outskirts have emerged as major hubs.
Home Department sources allege that some of these individuals are involved in drug trafficking, prostitution and cybercrime. Unofficially, however, senior officials familiar with the issue admit that the real number could be far higher.
Some estimates suggest that Karnataka may be hosting between 15 and 20 lakh illegal foreign nationals, including Bangladeshi nationals allegedly treated as a vote bank, African nationals from countries such as Kenya, Uganda and Uruguay entering on student visas and later linked to drug networks, and Sri Lankan Tamils.
Illegal foreign nationals typically enter India unlawfully or overstay their visas after arriving for business, education or medical tourism. Many procure forged identity documents to access government benefits and continue residing in the country.
The state currently has only one detention centre for foreigners, located at Sondekoppa near Nelamangala, with a capacity of just 40 inmates. Officials said that once illegal foreign nationals are identified, their respective embassies and the Ministry of External Affairs are informed, and they are kept in the detention centre until legal formalities and exit permits are completed.
City Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh stated that Bengaluru, due to its status as a hub for education, business and medical tourism, continues to attract foreign nationals, many of whom overstay their visas. “So far, around 400 illegal foreign nationals have been identified and deported from Bengaluru alone,” he said.
The wide gap between official figures and unofficial estimates has raised serious questions about enforcement capacity, surveillance and the need for stronger mechanisms to track visa overstays and illegal migration in the state.
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