Jalgaon authorities cancel 43 forged birth and death document orders

Representational image.
| Photo Credit: The Hindu

Maharashtra’s Jalgaon Municipal Corporation Birth and Death Registrar Department has cancelled 43 forged birth and death document orders that claimed to be issued by the Jalgaon Tehsildar Office.

Dr. Gholap Vijay, Jalgaon Chief Medical Officer who was previously (from January 1, 2024 to February 23, 2025) was the Registrar of Birth and Death certificate in the Jalgaon Municipal Corporation said, “Certain news organisations have misreported the matter saying a First Information Report (F.I.R.) has been registered against 43 persons for alleged fraudulent practices concerning birth certificates issued by the Jalgaon Municipal Corporation but the fact is, no birth or death certificate has been issued by the local authorities.”   

The matter escalated when BJP leader and former Rajya Sabha MP Kirit Somaiya on April 3, 2025, made allegations saying that large-scale violations were committed in issuing birth certificates to Bangladeshi immigrants and Rohingyas in different parts of Maharashtra who are trying to procure Indian citizenship.   

Clarifying the matter, Dr. Vijay said that the registration of births and deaths occurring within the limits of Jalgaon City Municipal Corporation is done at the Registrar- Birth and Death Department, located on the 3rd floor, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Building, Jalgaon City. “For records older than one year, the registration is done only after receiving the original copy of the order of the Jalgaon District and Sessions Court or the order of the Tehsildar Jalgaon, after charging a late fee. However, as per the order of Government Decision Miscellaneous 2025/Pr. No. 03/E-1A dated January 21, 2025, the registrations received after the said date have been stopped,” he explained. 

However, on February 21, 2025, a person suddenly submitted a total of 50 orders of the Tehsildar to the Birth and Death Department of the Municipal Corporation, he added, “While checking the said applications and orders, it was noticed that the signature on the order seemed forged. Following this suspicion, the matter was discussed with the superiors and sent to the Tehsildar for inspection. Out of 50 orders, 49 are for birth and 1 is for death; and of these 50 orders, only 7 were found to be valid.” 

The Tehsildar on Saturday filed an FIR with the Jalgaon Crime Branch under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Sections 318(4), 336(2), 336(3), 340(2) and 3(5) that amounts to punishment of imprisonment or fine for dealing with cheating, dishonesty and a joint criminal liability when multiple people work together to commit a crime. The FIR is filed against the 43 applicants and one person who collected and submitted all the 50 applications and filed them.  

“All the names in the application are Muslim names but we cannot for sure say they are Bangladeshis or Rohingyas until the investigation is completed,” Dr. Vijay said.