An extensive Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe into a suspected birth certificate racket in Maharashtra’s Malegaon has uncovered a sophisticated network of document forgers, beneficiaries, and intermediaries, revealing alarming loopholes in public recordkeeping.
A Multi-District Operation Fueled by Forgery
In a sweeping action on Friday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids across multiple locations in Maharashtra’s Malegaon district, unearthing a large-scale scam involving the issuance of delayed birth certificates based on forged documents.
According to investigators, between August 2023 and December 2024 alone, a staggering 3,127 delayed birth certificates were allegedly issued fraudulently across various districts. This figure, officials say, points to an organized racket that systematically bypassed government verification processes by leveraging fake credentials, fraudulent seals, and counterfeit educational and identity documents.
The FIRs underpinning the ED’s probe were largely based on complaints from tehsildars — local revenue officers — who flagged multiple instances where applicants submitted tampered documents, including fake school-leaving certificates, fabricated Aadhaar cards, ration cards, and even fraudulent transfer certificates.
In many cases, applicants sought to obtain multiple birth certificates under different identities, suggesting a deliberate and coordinated effort to manipulate identity databases.
Forged Signatures, Fake Schools, and Non-Resident Applicants
The deeper the investigation went, the murkier the revelations became. ED sources confirmed that some applicants had managed to obtain falsified signatures and seals of government officials, creating an illusion of authenticity.
Shockingly, many educational institutions referenced in the forged documents were later found to be non-existent or had no record of the applicants.
In several cases, individuals who sought delayed birth certificates did not even belong to Maharashtra but targeted the state’s relatively less stringent documentation system to fabricate new identities.
Officials believe these fake birth certificates could have been used for a range of illicit activities — from acquiring government benefits and property rights to enabling financial fraud, illegal immigration, or even future election-related identity misuse. The full extent of the damage, however, remains under investigation.
The Method: A Sophisticated Ecosystem of Forgery
The scam’s modus operandi, as outlined by ED officials, reflected careful planning and coordination. Essential documents that are typically issued only by municipal authorities such as proof of birth registration or death records were circumvented entirely.
Instead, applicants submitted fabricated documents complete with forged official signatures and seals directly to the local Tehsil Offices.
The officials processing these delayed certificates either failed to detect the forged paperwork or were possibly complicit, investigators suggest.
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Several municipal offices reportedly had no record whatsoever of issuing the certificates presented during application processes, raising serious concerns about internal oversight and potential inside collusion.
The ED, working alongside local police and forensic experts, is now analyzing seized documents and electronic devices to map the full network of beneficiaries, middlemen, and government officials involved.
Multiple arrests are expected as the investigation progresses, and officials hinted that the case could soon lead to wider scrutiny of identity verification processes across Maharashtra.