Mumbai police have arrested a 21-year-old for allegedly running a fake government document racket, seizing 443 forged ration cards and bogus MMRDA allotment letters. Police suspect a larger network and are probing possible misuse for illegal benefits and identity fraud
Sujal revealed the name of Rakesh Bhagat Singh, 43, who worked at a rationing office in Chembur, as an accomplice. Instead of destroying cancelled ration cards, he allegedly removed the yellow, orange, and white plastic covers, which indicate a ration card holder’s economic status, and supplied them to Sujal after burning the inner pages
The Dindoshi police have busted a large-scale fake government document racket allegedly operated by a 21-year-old who carried forward the illegal trade once run by his late father. Sujal Dayal was arrested after the police recovered hundreds of forged ration cards, fake MMRDA housing allotment letters, and bogus government survey receipts related to collector land from his possession.
The Dindoshi police Anti-Terrorism Cell team received specific information about Sujal Dayal’s involvement in preparing and selling forged government documents. The team detained him in Malad East over the weekend, and a personal search led to the recovery of three fake ration cards, two forged MMRDA allotment letters, and a blank survey receipt used for hutment regularisation. Illustrations/Uday Mohite
Acting on a tip-off, a Dindoshi police team led by Assistant Police Inspector Shiv Bhosle detained Sujal at Ranisati Marg in Malad East over the weekend. During a personal search, police recovered fake ration cards, MMRDA allotment letters, and a blank survey receipt. A special team subsequently raided Sujal’s home in Virar West, where several fake government documents were seized. Sujal was arrested and produced before a court for remand.
Father ran similar racket
During interrogation, Sujal disclosed that his father Shivaji Dayal had been running the same illegal operation for years before he passed away last year. From a young age, Sujal had watched his father prepare forged documents for customers. After his father’s death and with his mother suffering from prolonged illness, Sujal claimed he had no financial support and continued the racket to survive.
A special team raided Sujal’s Agarwal Paradise residence in Virar West and found a room converted into a fake document manufacturing unit, equipped with a printing machine, a computer, old government records, and official stamps. The police seized 443 forged ration cards
A police source revealed that Sujal’s father earlier lived in the Malwani-Mahakali area before shifting to Virar. He worked as an agent linked to the rationing office in Goregaon and was considered a “master” in preparing fake ration cards.
Most of the seized ration cards carry Malwani addresses, while the rest bear Vasai, Nalasopara, and Palghar addresses, officers said. The police noted that the handwriting on older cards belonged to the father, while newer cards were written by Sujal.
Used for illegal activities
Sujal revealed that he would immerse ordinary paper in a tea brew, giving it a brownish shade similar to official ration card pages. He would then cut the paper to size, stamps were affixed, and names of cardholders and family members were handwritten in Marathi
The forged cards were used to illegally avail benefits under government schemes, including income certificates, medical benefits for yellow and orange card holders, electricity meter connections, and bail documentation for accused persons.
PAPs conned using letters
The police also seized fake MMRDA Project-Affected People (PAP) housing allotment letters related to road widening, road cutting, and shifting projects, along with a blank survey receipt used to falsely claim the legality of hutments on government land.
Foreign angle under probe
The accused was arrested after police received a tip-off. REPRESENTATION PIC/ISTOCK
Police are currently verifying the names and addresses mentioned on the seized ration cards, and whether foreign nationals, particularly Bangladeshi or Pakistani citizens, may have used these to obtain Indian identity and settle illegally.
Insider help received
Sujal revealed the names of several agents, based on which the police arrested another accused from Chembur, identified as Rakesh Bhagat Singh, 43, who was working as a peon at a rationing office in Chembur. His duties included cleaning the office and disposing of cancelled ration cards.
Bigger racket suspected
Police believe this is part of a well-organised and long-running racket involving multiple government departments. Letters will be sent to all departments concerned to gather information, and strict action will be taken against any government employee involved. “More arrests are likely in the coming days,” said Senior Police Inspector Mahendra Shinde from Dindoshi police station.
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