28 February,2024 04:32 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Eknath Shinde/ File Photo/PTI
Mumbai Police on Wednesday registered a case against unidentified persons for allegedly forging the signature and stamp of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, an official said.
The forgery came to light due to the alertness of the staff of the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) after they received some memorandums suggesting certain actions, PTI reported. A complaint was lodged by the desk officer of the CMO this evening at Marine Drive police station.
The CMO receives memorandums and letters signed by the chief minister with remarks for further action. The documents are registered with the postage section and the e-office system before they are dispatched to the departments concerned, it said.
Recently, the CMO received 10 to 12 memorandums with forged signatures and stamps of the chief minister. The chief minister took a serious note and directed the CMO to lodge a police complaint. Accordingly, the CMO desk officer approached the police.
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An FIR was registered under sections 420 (cheating), 465 (forgery), 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating ),471 (using as genuine a forged document), and 473 (making or possessing a counterfeit seal) of the Indian Penal Code against unidentified persons, the police official said.
At least 12 memorandums with the forged signature and stamp of the CM received by the CMO were about demanding funds and transfers.
As the stamping on the memorandums is done at the CMO, the desk officer observed that some memorandums were stamped, which led to suspicion, the police official added.
The chief minister has also asked the staff to be more vigilant, the CMO said.
In a statement posted on social media sites, the CMO said, "It has been pointed out that some of the statements received for action by the Chief Minister's Secretariat have fake signatures and stamps of the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and a complaint has been lodged in this regard at the Marine Lines Police Station."
It further read, "Memorandums and letters with comments signed by the Chief Minister were received from all over the Chief Minister's Secretariat for further action. These statements were recorded in the post office and were recorded in the e-office system and sent to the concerned administrative departments. The staff pointed out that the Chief Minister's signature and seals on ten to twelve memorandums received by the Chief Minister's Secretariat were suspicious and fake. The matter was brought to the notice of the seniors. The Chief Minister has taken a serious note of this and directed to file a complaint with the police immediately. A complaint has been filed at the Marine Lines Police Station and the police are investigating further."
The CM expressed deep worry over the issue and directed the CMO to file an immediate police report. Furthermore, the CM advised office employees to exercise increased caution to prevent similar incidents in the future, the PTI report added.
"The chief minister has also given instructions to the office staff to work more vigilantly," the statement read. (With inputs from PTI)
