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Fraud Worth ?500–600 Crore in Nashik Kumbh Mela! Racket Issuing Fake Work Orders Exposed; Minister Girish Mahajan Makes Shocking Revelation
Jalgaon: A major racket involving fraud worth crores of rupees—perpetrated by issuing fake work orders under the guise of Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela projects—has come to light. Kumbh Mela Minister Girish Mahajan made a startling revelation at a press conference in Jalgaon on Monday, stating that the total fraud amount could reach between ?500 and ?600 crore.
Mahajan explained that the perpetrators extorted large sums of money by creating highly convincing fake work orders that bore the name of Nashik Divisional Revenue Commissioner Pravin Gedam and a digital signature featuring only the letter 'S'. These orders were issued under the pretext of supplying food, water, mats, buckets, bedsheets, and other materials for police personnel deployed for Kumbh Mela security. Each fake order was valued at approximately ?100 to ?150 crore.
Orders Issued Without Online Tenders
The government conducts an online tendering process for Kumbh Mela-related works. However, in this instance, the recipients of the fake orders had not submitted any tenders. Despite this, the suspects accepted payments via cash and cheques and issued offline work orders. Since these orders closely resembled official government documents, many people were deceived.
Official orders typically feature a QR code, and the Revenue Commissioner's name is not listed in the manner seen here; however, the fake orders used Gedam's name and a signature consisting only of the letter 'S'. This has raised suspicions of a larger conspiracy.
Minister in Possession of Four Fake Orders
Four or five individuals recently approached Minister Mahajan regarding this matter. The fraud came to light after they showed him some of these orders. The Minister currently possesses four forged work orders. These orders date back to March and April. Mahajan claimed that the individuals involved include two persons from Jamner taluka in Jalgaon district and one from Dhule district. Others may also be involved in this racket.
**Preparations for Action**
Upon learning of the matter, Mahajan consulted with Revenue Commissioner Pravin Gedam and Kumbh Mela Commissioner Shekhar Singh. He clarified the government's stance of taking strict action against those who misuse the government's name by creating forged orders. Instructions have been issued to file police complaints and register cases against the concerned individuals. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has also taken serious note of the issue and ordered that the guilty be taken into custody.
Previously, three individuals from Mumbai had committed fraud using similar forged orders, and cases were registered against them. With this incident coming to light again, the scope of the matter appears to be much wider. The victims of the fraud include citizens from Mumbai and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
**Investigating Official Involvement**
Given the high degree of authenticity in the forged orders, an inquiry will be conducted to determine if any officials or employees from the concerned department are involved. If involvement is established, cases will be registered against them as well.
Minister Mahajan appealed to everyone not to obtain work orders by making direct payments under the pretext of Kumbh Mela projects. He advised against trusting any order without verifying it through the official tender process and government machinery. He urged those who have been defrauded to file a police complaint, assuring that the entire racket would be investigated and strict action taken against the guilty.
Jalgaon: A major racket involving fraud worth crores of rupees—perpetrated by issuing fake work orders under the guise of Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela projects—has come to light. Kumbh Mela Minister Girish Mahajan made a startling revelation at a press conference in Jalgaon on Monday, stating that the total fraud amount could reach between ?500 and ?600 crore.
Mahajan explained that the perpetrators extorted large sums of money by creating highly convincing fake work orders that bore the name of Nashik Divisional Revenue Commissioner Pravin Gedam and a digital signature featuring only the letter 'S'. These orders were issued under the pretext of supplying food, water, mats, buckets, bedsheets, and other materials for police personnel deployed for Kumbh Mela security. Each fake order was valued at approximately ?100 to ?150 crore.
Orders Issued Without Online Tenders
The government conducts an online tendering process for Kumbh Mela-related works. However, in this instance, the recipients of the fake orders had not submitted any tenders. Despite this, the suspects accepted payments via cash and cheques and issued offline work orders. Since these orders closely resembled official government documents, many people were deceived.
Official orders typically feature a QR code, and the Revenue Commissioner's name is not listed in the manner seen here; however, the fake orders used Gedam's name and a signature consisting only of the letter 'S'. This has raised suspicions of a larger conspiracy.
Minister in Possession of Four Fake Orders
Four or five individuals recently approached Minister Mahajan regarding this matter. The fraud came to light after they showed him some of these orders. The Minister currently possesses four forged work orders. These orders date back to March and April. Mahajan claimed that the individuals involved include two persons from Jamner taluka in Jalgaon district and one from Dhule district. Others may also be involved in this racket.
**Preparations for Action**
Upon learning of the matter, Mahajan consulted with Revenue Commissioner Pravin Gedam and Kumbh Mela Commissioner Shekhar Singh. He clarified the government's stance of taking strict action against those who misuse the government's name by creating forged orders. Instructions have been issued to file police complaints and register cases against the concerned individuals. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has also taken serious note of the issue and ordered that the guilty be taken into custody.
Previously, three individuals from Mumbai had committed fraud using similar forged orders, and cases were registered against them. With this incident coming to light again, the scope of the matter appears to be much wider. The victims of the fraud include citizens from Mumbai and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
**Investigating Official Involvement**
Given the high degree of authenticity in the forged orders, an inquiry will be conducted to determine if any officials or employees from the concerned department are involved. If involvement is established, cases will be registered against them as well.
Minister Mahajan appealed to everyone not to obtain work orders by making direct payments under the pretext of Kumbh Mela projects. He advised against trusting any order without verifying it through the official tender process and government machinery. He urged those who have been defrauded to file a police complaint, assuring that the entire racket would be investigated and strict action taken against the guilty.
Mahajan explained that the perpetrators extorted large sums of money by creating highly convincing fake work orders that bore the name of Nashik Divisional Revenue Commissioner Pravin Gedam and a digital signature featuring only the letter 'S'. These orders were issued under the pretext of supplying food, water, mats, buckets, bedsheets, and other materials for police personnel deployed for Kumbh Mela security. Each fake order was valued at approximately ?100 to ?150 crore.
Orders Issued Without Online Tenders
The government conducts an online tendering process for Kumbh Mela-related works. However, in this instance, the recipients of the fake orders had not submitted any tenders. Despite this, the suspects accepted payments via cash and cheques and issued offline work orders. Since these orders closely resembled official government documents, many people were deceived.
Official orders typically feature a QR code, and the Revenue Commissioner's name is not listed in the manner seen here; however, the fake orders used Gedam's name and a signature consisting only of the letter 'S'. This has raised suspicions of a larger conspiracy.
Minister in Possession of Four Fake Orders
Four or five individuals recently approached Minister Mahajan regarding this matter. The fraud came to light after they showed him some of these orders. The Minister currently possesses four forged work orders. These orders date back to March and April. Mahajan claimed that the individuals involved include two persons from Jamner taluka in Jalgaon district and one from Dhule district. Others may also be involved in this racket.
**Preparations for Action**
Upon learning of the matter, Mahajan consulted with Revenue Commissioner Pravin Gedam and Kumbh Mela Commissioner Shekhar Singh. He clarified the government's stance of taking strict action against those who misuse the government's name by creating forged orders. Instructions have been issued to file police complaints and register cases against the concerned individuals. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has also taken serious note of the issue and ordered that the guilty be taken into custody.
Previously, three individuals from Mumbai had committed fraud using similar forged orders, and cases were registered against them. With this incident coming to light again, the scope of the matter appears to be much wider. The victims of the fraud include citizens from Mumbai and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
**Investigating Official Involvement**
Given the high degree of authenticity in the forged orders, an inquiry will be conducted to determine if any officials or employees from the concerned department are involved. If involvement is established, cases will be registered against them as well.
Minister Mahajan appealed to everyone not to obtain work orders by making direct payments under the pretext of Kumbh Mela projects. He advised against trusting any order without verifying it through the official tender process and government machinery. He urged those who have been defrauded to file a police complaint, assuring that the entire racket would be investigated and strict action taken against the guilty.
