Sat Jan 25 08:53:42 UTC 2025: **Maharashtra Launches SIT Probe into Alleged Birth Certificate Scam Linked to Illegal Immigrants**
**Mumbai, January 25, 2025** – The Maharashtra government has established a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate allegations of irregularities in the issuance of birth and death certificates, particularly those applied for significantly after the event. The probe follows claims by BJP leader Kirit Somaiya that a large number of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Rohingya have obtained such certificates.
The SIT, headed by Inspector General Datta Karale, will examine both already-issued certificates and pending applications. The investigation was prompted by Somaiya’s allegations, which include claims of 269 delayed birth registrations in Akola City between 2021 and 2023, and significantly higher numbers of delayed applications across other districts (Akola, Yavatmal, Nagpur). Somaiya further alleged that approximately two lakh Bangladeshi and Rohingya individuals applied for birth certificates in Maharashtra, citing Akola, Amravati, and Malegaon as hotspots for illegal immigration. He also pointed to a potential scam involving approximately 1,000 fake birth certificates issued in Anjangaon Surji village.
Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule confirmed the SIT’s formation and the scope of its investigation. The move follows a recent crackdown on illegal immigrants in the state, including the arrest of a Bangladeshi national suspected of attacking actor Saif Ali Khan in Mumbai. The previous Devendra Fadnavis government had already launched a drive to identify and apprehend illegal immigrants.
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