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Hotel Raid: The situation regarding not showing an Aadhaar card during a police raid on a hotel depends on whether or not you can produce an alternative form of identification. It is also important to consider the reason behind the police inquiry.

Imagine you are staying at a hotel for urgent work, a function, or an interview. After a tiring day, you are resting in your room when suddenly there is a loud knock on the door: "Open the door, police." In a state of panic, you open the door, and the police ask for your Aadhaar card, only for you to realize that you left it in your wallet. Naturally, fear might make you break into a sweat.

Let us understand our essential rights as ordinary citizens.

The Aadhaar card is not the only means of proving one's identity. If you do not have your Aadhaar card, you can present a Voter ID, driving license, passport, or any other government-issued photo identity card.
If you left the physical cards at home, you can show a digital ID via DigiLocker or m-Aadhaar on your phone. Crucially, these are legally valid.

What happens if you have no ID at all?

If you do not possess any proof of identity during a raid, the police have the right to question you based on suspicion. They may take you to the nearest police station to verify your identity, but you cannot be arrested solely for not having an ID.

What are the legal rights regarding staying in a hotel?

If two adults (individuals over the age of 18) are staying in a hotel with mutual consent, it is not a crime. The police cannot arrest you simply for staying at a hotel.
If a woman is present in the room, the presence of a female police officer is mandatory during the inquiry. Generally, a woman cannot be taken to the police station between sunset and sunrise. You can politely ask the police officer at the door for their name, batch number, and the reason for the raid.
Remember to remain calm during a raid rather than arguing. If you do not have a physical ID, you can show digital documents available in DigiLocker or mAadhaar. Install both these essential apps on your phone today.