KANPUR: Police have booked eight people after the widow of a deceased Kanpur Development Authority employee alleged that a forged will and other documents were created to deprive her family of employment, insurance, provident fund and property benefits.
The FIR was registered by Kotwali police following directions from a court. Complainant Meera Devi has accused her daughter Hema Kanaujia and several others of fabricating documents after the death of her husband, Baburam, who worked as a Class IV employee with the KDA.
The allegations have not been proved. Police will now have to establish whether the disputed documents and signatures were forged and determine the role of each person named in the complaint.
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Baburam died in July 2022 while still employed with the KDA. Meera told police that she had been living separately with her son Anurag and daughter Ankita because of a family dispute, while daughters Hema and Tanu stayed with their father.
According to the complaint, the dispute over Baburam’s benefits began after his death.
Meera alleges that Hema arranged documents in which Baburam’s mother, Siyadulari, was presented as his wife. She has claimed that a false Aadhaar card and death certificate were also prepared as part of the alleged attempt.
The widow believes these documents could have affected who was recognised as Baburam’s dependent or legal family member for receiving benefits arising from his death.
These included provident fund dues, insurance payments and possible appointment of an eligible dependent on compassionate grounds.
Compassionate appointment is intended to provide immediate financial support to the family of an employee who dies while in service. The Supreme Court has repeatedly held that it is meant to help a family deal with the sudden loss of its breadwinner and is governed by the applicable employment scheme rather than being an automatic inheritance of the deceased employee’s job.
KDA officials reportedly raised objections over the documents placed before them. Meera alleged that Hema later approached a court seeking recognition of herself and Tanu as Baburam’s legal heirs but subsequently withdrew the case.
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The more serious dispute concerns a purported will carrying a September 2016 date.
Meera alleges that the document was actually prepared much later, after she sent a notice on October 17, 2023, seeking division of family property.
According to her complaint, Baburam’s signatures were forged on the purported will and Ramkishan and Madhuri were shown as witnesses.
The document was then allegedly registered at the Zone Four sub-registrar’s office on December 30, 2024 — more than two years after Baburam’s death.
That sequence of events is now expected to become central to the police investigation. Investigators may have to examine the original document, registration records, signatures, witnesses and the circumstances in which the will reached the sub-registrar’s office.
Registration alone does not settle whether a disputed will is genuine.
The Supreme Court has held that merely registering a will does not automatically give it a stamp of authenticity. Courts can still examine whether it was actually executed by the person concerned and whether suspicious circumstances surrounding the document have been satisfactorily explained.
That principle could become relevant if the authenticity of Baburam’s signature or the circumstances surrounding the alleged will are challenged in subsequent proceedings.
Court Steps In After Widow Says Police Did Not Act
Meera claims she first approached authorities with a complaint in July 2025.
She alleged that effective action did not follow, forcing her to move the court for directions.
Kotwali police have now registered an FIR against eight people in compliance with the court order. Inspector Arun Dwivedi confirmed the registration of the case.
The investigation is expected to examine not only the alleged will but also the Aadhaar-related records, death certificate and documents used to establish family relationships before KDA authorities.
Forensic examination of the disputed signature could become important if investigators suspect that Baburam did not execute the document attributed to him.
Police will also need to determine whether the paperwork was merely prepared or whether it was actually used to claim property, employment-related benefits or money belonging to the deceased employee’s family.
The FIR marks the beginning of the criminal investigation and does not establish the guilt of Hema or any of the other people named by the complainant.
What this means for you:
Families of deceased employees should obtain copies of nominations, service records and succession-related documents early if disputes emerge. A registered document can still be challenged when there are allegations of forgery or suspicious circumstances.
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