A major fake administrative approval scam has been exposed in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district, where police have arrested Ashish Pipre, a co-opted councillor of the Chamorshi Municipal Council, in connection with an alleged ₹4 crore fraud involving forged government sanctions.
According to officials, the accused is alleged to have fabricated administrative approval letters using counterfeit letterheads and forged signatures of the district collector’s office. These documents were reportedly used to obtain fake sanctions for development works under the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) fund scheme.
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Police said the accused was arrested late Sunday night from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, triggering concern across administrative and political circles. Investigators believe that fake government orders were systematically created and circulated to push forward development projects worth several crores.
Officials stated that the forged documents were highly sophisticated, closely replicating official government formats, seals, and signatures, making them difficult to detect initially. Several approvals were reportedly processed based on these fabricated documents before irregularities came to light.
Investigators have revealed that the accused had previously worked as a personal assistant to a former state minister, which allegedly gave him familiarity with administrative procedures and access to key networks. Police suspect that this proximity may have been misused to facilitate the alleged fraud.
The accused’s wife is reported to be a municipal councillor, adding a political dimension to the case. However, officials clarified that the accused had been expelled from a political party a few months earlier. Despite this, he allegedly continued to remain active in local administrative and civic circles.
Police sources also said that the accused had earlier been linked to another case involving alleged fraud related to an incense stick (agarbatti) project, where several women were reportedly cheated. Investigators are now examining whether there is any connection between the two cases.
Authorities are conducting a detailed probe into the creation of forged letterheads, fake signatures, financial transactions, and project approvals. Officials are also verifying how these documents were used within administrative channels and whether any other individuals were involved in the network.
Multiple statements have already been recorded, and investigators have indicated that more arrests cannot be ruled out as the probe expands. The case has raised serious concerns over verification mechanisms and safeguards in the implementation of DMF-funded development projects.
Officials added that forensic examination of documents and digital evidence will help determine the exact scale of forgery and the extent of the financial irregularities involved. The investigation is ongoing.
