SIT to probe racket supplying fake birth certificates to illegal foreigners

An internal probe report by the BMC recently uncovered violations in the birth and death registration system, and found that nearly 87,000 corrections from 2024 to 2026 were made not in the mandatory registration system but in the old manner. The BMC report recommended suspending a civic official. The probe noted that 87,347 birth correction certificates were made using the SAP system, which was discontinued after the new CRS portal was introduced by the central government in 2016.

According to Kirit Somaiya, despite a shift to the CRS portal for birth and death registrations, the BMC has continued illegal certificates through the closed “SAP” system.

Records show that of 87,347 forged certificates issued through SAP system, 30,507 certificates were filed in 2024, 49,705 were issued in 2025 while 7,135 in 2026. By contrast, only 33,700 certificates were issued using the approved CRS system during the same period.

Data also shows that the highest were filed in M/East ward (Mankhurd, Deonar), followed by L ward (Kurla), K/West ward (Andheri West), E ward (Byculla) and H/West (Khar, Bandra West).
“Despite our follow-ups in the recent months, civic medical health officers continued to file certificates through the old system and attempted to cover the scam. The BMC is yet to cancel any of the 87,000+ forged certificates, which were filed under the excuse of spelling errors or change in birth dates. Since the BMC has failed to take any action, the SIT has been constituted today to identify the lapses in the system,” Somaiya told reporters on Tuesday.

Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde, meanwhile, said that highest discrepancies have been identified in L ward, E ward, R/North and K/West wards. “We don’t have enough space for our own Mumbaikars and when such illegal immigrants come into the city, it further adds to the burden. Their presence will not be tolerated,” said Tawde.

In February, Mumbai police registered an FIR against two former BMC medical health department officials who allegedly approved birth certificates without verifying the required documentation. No arrests were made in the case.

The Mahayuti government has been promising action against illegal Bangladeshi nationals in the state. Last year, the Mumbai police deported over 1,000 of these individuals to Bangladesh. Earlier this year, a detention centre was established to hold illegal foreign nationals before their deportation.