Officials said the move comes after civic authorities found that more than 87,000 bogus birth certificates were allegedly issued between 2024 and 2026 by manipulating official records and using forged documents.
The matter first came under scrutiny after the Mumbai Crime Branch received multiple complaints pointing to suspicious and fraudulent birth registrations. A preliminary probe reportedly found a pattern of similar cases, leading to a wider investigation.
Considering the seriousness of the allegations, Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti ordered the formation of a dedicated SIT to carry out a detailed probe into the complaints and identify those involved.
The newly formed SIT will be led by the Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime). Senior officers from the crime branch, special branch, and detection units will also be part of the investigation team.
The issue has also drawn political attention. BJP leader Kirit Somaiya had earlier alleged that fake birth certificates were being issued to illegal Bangladeshi immigrants and Rohingya individuals in parts of Maharashtra through a larger scam.
Police are now expected to examine official records, verify documents, and trace the network behind the alleged fraudulent registrations.
The investigation is likely to focus on how such a large number of fake certificates were issued, who benefited from them, and whether officials or outside agents were involved in the alleged scam.
read more at mumbaipune.co.in
