Strict action will be taken: Ajit Pawar after unidentified persons forge signature and stamp of CM Shinde

Ajit Pawar. File Pic

A day after the office of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde found memorandums with his forged signatures and stamps, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar hinted at strict action against the culprits.

Leader of Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar raised the issue in the Lower House on Thursday, saying the issue of fake stamps of the CMO and forging of the chief minister's signature was serious.

"Earlier it was found out that a fake official was in the CMO for six months," he said and demanded strict action.

Deputy CM Pawar assured strict action in the case, saying the government has taken a serious note of the matter and no person found guilty will be spared.

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Speaking in the legislative assembly, Ajit Pawar revealed, "The officers and employees of Chief Minister's Secretariat have found that some memorandums with fake signatures and stamps of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde have come to the secretariat for processing. This matter is serious and the state government has taken notice of it. Mumbai Police has registered a First Information Report (FIR). An investigation is underway to ascertain who is behind this. The matter will be thoroughly investigated and strict action will be taken against the culprits. No one will be spared in this matter."

Meanwhile, Mumbai Police on Wednesday registered a case against unidentified persons for allegedly forging the signature and stamp of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

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.

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, the CMO 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.

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.

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 said.

The chief minister has also asked the staff to be more vigilant, the CMO said.