What's Bangladeshi birth certificate scam? Mulund Police file FIR against 367 people

The Mulund Police in Mumbai have filed a first information report (FIR) against 367 people in the illegal birth certificates scam case.

The FIR has been filed under Sections 336(3), 340(2), 318(4), 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Section 23 of the Birth Registration Act. 

The FIR alleged that the accused, many of whom are reportedly Bangladeshi immigrants, obtained the certificates through fraudulent means.

Earlier, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kirit Somaiya had filed a complaint, alleging that several Bangladeshi nationals were forging documents to obtain birth certificates.

Talking to reporters, Somaiya hailed the recent arrest of Bangladeshi nationals from the state and expressed hope that the whole racket would be busted in the coming days.

"He (Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis) has instructed the whole Maharashtra Police ATS and district administrations to take strict action against the Rohingya Muslims from Bangladesh who have settled here illegally. I feel that this whole racket will be busted in the coming days," Somaiya said. 

In November, Jalgaon Police had reportedly arrested 43 Bangladeshi nationals for allegedly forging court orders to obtain birth certificates. The case involves the theft of court documents and court seals from the executive magistrate’s office.

In July, the Maharashtra government said it had cancelled over 42,000 birth certificates issued to Bangladeshi immigrants staying illegally in the state.