Wed Sep 25 04:01:16 UTC 2024: ## Mumbai High Court Orders Police Probe into Forged Signature on Legal Document in Domestic Violence Case
**Mumbai, India -** The Bombay High Court has ordered a senior Mumbai Police official to investigate the authenticity of a signature on a legal document in a domestic violence case. The accused in the case, who is untraceable, is alleged to have forged the signature on the “Vakalatnama” – a document authorizing a lawyer to represent a client in court.
The court’s order came during a hearing of a petition filed by the accused seeking to quash an FIR registered against him at a local police station. The FIR, filed by his estranged wife, accuses him of domestic violence under various sections of the Indian Penal Code.
The wife’s lawyers, Mayuri Hatle and Mandar Surve, argued that the accused has been absconding since the FIR was registered and is currently located in Dublin, Ireland. The court observed that the case diary lacked any evidence of the police attempting to locate the accused.
Further investigation revealed discrepancies between the signatures on the accused’s passport and the Vakalatnama, raising concerns about the authenticity of the document. This prompted the High Court to direct the Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) to file an affidavit detailing the investigation into the signatures.
The court will reconvene on October 9th to hear further arguments in the case. This development highlights the importance of thorough investigation and the potential for forged legal documents to hinder justice in criminal proceedings.
First Piper 