India, July 15 -- Possessing forged identity documents and using fake passports to create false digital identities is a serious offence impacting national security and law enforcement, the Delhi high court held, while denying bail to a foreign national accused of duping people through fake matrimony profiles and morphed digital identities.

A bench of justice Shailender Kaur denied bail to foreign national Paul Onyeji Auth on July 10, after a trial court denied him bail in 2023. In his plea, Atuh contended that he had already spent three years in jail for an offence in which he was falsely implicated.

Delhi Police, represented by additional public prosecutor Meenakshi Dahiya, opposed the bail on the grounds that Auth was an integral part...