Pune civic body portal hacked to change child’s name in birth certificate, FIR lodged

As per the FIR, the unidentified person allegedly misused the “login and password” of Dr Sujata Mane, medical officer at the PMC’s Dhole Patil Road ward office, for getting access to the portal used for registration of births and deaths. The accused then allegedly made changes in the name on the birth certificate of a child. The father of the child came to know about this name change done illegally without his consent.

Subsequently he filed a complaint with the Pune Municipal Commissioner and the cyber police station of the Pune city police. Dr Arvind Makhar, medical officer at the PMC’s birth and death registration head office in Kasba Peth, said the complaint was filed by the child’s father on January 30, 2023. “After verification of complaint, we registered the correct name of the child on the birth certificate,” he said.

When contacted, Dr Mane said, “The portal used for birth and death registration is run by the Central Government. It is not known to us how the accused got access to the portal and made the change in the name of a child’s birth certificate. We came to know after the father of the child, who is a cardiologist, approached us. We have filed a complaint with the police, who will be investigating the matter.”

Senior police inspector Dadasaheb Chudappa said after verifying the complaint filed by the child’s father at the Cyber police station, an FIR has been registered in this case and further probe is on.

Police have booked the unidentified accused under section 468 (Forgery for purpose of cheating) of the Indian Penal Code and sections of the Information Technology (IT) Act. PMC has also initiated an internal inquiry into this matter.