Mayor flags 237 fake birth certificates issued to alleged Bangladeshi infiltrators, orders criminal action
The meeting was attended by senior civic officials, officers from Mumbai Police, former MP Kirit Somaiya, and the collectors of Mumbai city and suburban districts.
Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde on Friday initiated sweeping action over alleged irregularities linked to illegal hawkers and forged civic records. At a high level meeting convened to review the issue of suspected Bangladeshi infiltrators operating businesses in the city, Tawde announced that 237 fake birth certificates had been issued over the past two years.
She ordered criminal proceedings against those responsible, suspended eight civic officials, and directed a month-long verification drive across Mumbai. The civic administration will also audit its internal systems and verify all birth certificates issued since 2016.
Following the meeting, Tawde stated that the fake birth certificates were allegedly issued to facilitate suspected Bangladeshi infiltrators in setting up illegal businesses in Mumbai. According to a civic official, the certificates were issued between 2023 and 2025 by the M East ward covering Govandi and Mankhurd, the M West ward covering Chembur, and the L ward covering Kurla.
Tawde directed civic authorities to initiate criminal proceedings against officials involved in issuing these certificates.
“This is an issue and this needs to be dealt with utmost seriousness. The fake certificates were issued to illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, compromising our national security. Therefore criminal cases are needed to be lodged against the officials as this incident also reflects a large-scale corruption racket in the BMC,” Tawde said.
The meeting was attended by senior civic officials, officers from Mumbai Police, former MP Kirit Somaiya, and the collectors of Mumbai city and suburban districts.
Civic officials said along with a month-long verification drive will now be launched, during which police teams will examine key documents, including birth certificates, of hawkers across Mumbai. In the process if any document is found to be forged, action will be taken against the hawkers concerned, while officials responsible for issuing such certificates will also face legal consequences.
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Officials added that the BMC’s internal systems will be scrutinised and the identities of all persons issued birth certificates since 2016 will be verified as part of the broader inquiry.
So far, eight officials from the three ward offices have been suspended. All belong to the public health department, which is responsible for preparing and issuing birth and death certificates.
“These certificates were issued between 2023 and 2025 and we have compiled a report of all the fake certificates that have been issued and have submitted in the meeting for consideration in the next courses of actions. At the same time all the fake certificates that were issued were discarded by us and they are no longer relevant,” an official told The Indian Express.
Pratip Acharya is a seasoned journalist based in Mumbai reporting for The Indian Express. With a career spanning over a decade, his work demonstrates strong Expertise and Authority in critical urban issues, civic affairs, and electoral politics across Eastern and Western India.
Expertise & Authority
Current Role: Journalist, The Indian Express (IE), reporting from Mumbai.
Core Authority: Pratip's reporting focuses sharply on local democracy and development, specializing in:
Urban Governance and Civic Affairs: Providing in-depth analysis of municipal decision-making, city planning, and local infrastructure, essential for informed urban reporting.
City Politics and Environment: Covering the political dynamics of Mumbai and surrounding areas, alongside critical environmental challenges impacting the metro region.
Electoral Coverage (High-Stakes Experience): He has extensive experience in high-stakes political reporting, having covered major elections, establishing his Trustworthiness in political analysis:
National: Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and 2019.
State: West Bengal Assembly elections in 2016 and Maharashtra Assembly elections in 2019.
Major Assignments (Ground Reporting): Pratip demonstrated commitment during crises by conducting ground reporting throughout the Covid-19 pandemic since its breakout in 2020, offering first-hand accounts and analysis of the public health crisis.
Experience
Extensive Experience: Starting his career in 2014, Pratip has built his foundation across multiple prominent English dailies:
Started at The Times of India in Kolkata (2014).
Relocated to Mumbai (2016) and worked with The Free Press Journal and Hindustan Times before joining The Indian Express.
Pratip Acharya's diverse experience across major publications, coupled with his specialized focus on the intricate details of urban governance and a track record of covering major electoral and health crises, establishes him as a trusted and authoritative source for news from India's critical metropolitan centres. ... Read More
