Cops say agent has admitted to forging 2 income certificates in the past
The Gamdevi police has arrested four persons for allegedly forging income certificates, mandatory for admission under the Right To Education (RTE) Act.
Bombay International School in Gamdevi, which received the fake income certificate for an admission under the RTE Act. Pic/Sneha Kharabe
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The arrest also led to the recovery of fake stamp seals and letters of authorisation from the tehsildar.
The forgery came to light after Gamdevi-based Bombay International School verified an income certificate of a child who had sought admission under the RTE Act in May. When the document was sent to the tehsildar’s office for verification, it was found that the signature on it had been forged and a fake stamp seal used.
A complaint was registered at the MRA Marg police station on June 8. The case was transferred to the Gamdevi police since the school falls within their jurisdiction.
Peon the mole?
The investigation trail led the police to Neel Kirit Shah (28), who was arrested from his residence in Goregaon as also Shahbaz Lakdawala (26) from DB Marg.
The police found that an 'agent' and Byculla resident Bajirao Desai (54), operating out of the Old Customs House, had provided the fake certificate. His arrest led to the seizure of several forged items — stamp seals, fake income certificates, 10 caste certificates and 59 blank papers formatted as per government documents. Desai had allegedly been providing fake government documents at the Old Customs House since 2014 for Rs 2,000 per certificate. He has so far admitted to forging two income certificates in the past.
Shah and Lakdawala got in on the racket during a period of unemployment. The police are ascertaining if a peon, Sadhu Yadav (55) from the Old Customs House, helped Desai get his hands on the stamp seal from the tehsildar’s office. Yadav has also been arrested.
The management of Bombay International School could not be contacted. A police officer said all four arrested will be in police custody till August 1. "Further investigation is underway."
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