Major fake birth certificate scam uncovered in Jamshedpur’s Chakulia

Two in custody, over 4000 certificates suspected fraudulent

Mail News Service

Ghatshila, May 3: The Chakulia police in East Singhbhum district have taken two individuals into custody for their alleged involvement in a massive fake birth certificate racket. The arrested include Sunil Mahato, Secretary of Matiyabandhi Panchayat and Sapan Mahato, a Village Level Entrepreneur (VLE) and computer operator. They are accused of producing over 4,000 fraudulent birth certificates in connivance, many in the names of people from outside the panchayat area.

Acting on an FIR lodged by Chakulia Block Development Officer Aarti Munda, the police conducted a late-night operation on Friday and detained both suspects from their residences. Preliminary investigations revealed that in the financial year 2024–25 alone, Matiyabandhi Panchayat issued over 4,400 birth certificates—of which approximately 4,000 are suspected to be forged.

Shockingly, more than 700 birth certificates were issued in the names of Muslims, despite no Muslim family residing in the panchayat. Similarly, 11 birth certificates were issued in the names of transgenders, though the area has no registered transgender residents. People from cities like Jamshedpur, Dhanbad, Bokaro and Gumla have also been found among the beneficiaries.

Late Friday night, Ghatshila SDO Sunil Chandra and SDPO Ajit Kumar Kujur visited Chakulia police station to assess the case progress. The SDO assured that all fraudulent certificates would be cancelled and strict legal action will be taken against both creators and users of the fake documents.