Massive Birth Certificate Fraud Unearthed in Mumbai’s M-East Ward; Over 87,000 Entries Under Scanner, SIT Constituted

A major irregularity involving birth registrations has been exposed in the M-East ward—covering Govandi, Deonar and Mankhurd—where a staggering 87,347 entries have been flagged as suspicious. The matter surfaced during an internal audit conducted by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), following which the Mumbai Police have set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by the Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime).

The issue gained prominence after BJP leader Kirit Somaiya raised allegations, claiming that forged birth certificates were being used to help illegal immigrants obtain Indian identity documents.

Official data till May 2026 indicates that these questionable registrations were recorded between 2024 and 2026. Preliminary findings suggest that loopholes in the system were exploited by using outdated registration methods to bypass the mandatory Civil Registration System (CRS). In several instances, delayed registration provisions were misused and certificates were issued without proper verification, allegedly based on forged documents.

Investigators suspect that such fake certificates may have been used by illegal immigrants, including individuals of Rohingya and Bangladeshi origin, to secure documents like Aadhaar cards and passports.

In the wake of the revelations, the registrar of the M-East ward along with at least four senior health officials have been suspended. Police have registered FIRs at Deonar and other police stations against both beneficiaries and officials allegedly involved in the fraud.

Civic authorities have already cancelled over 237 fake certificates through the online system by March 2026. To curb further malpractice, the BMC has undertaken large-scale transfers of Medical Health Officers (MOHs) across all its 24 wards.

Earlier, Kirit Somaiya staged a protest outside Azad Maidan Police Station, demanding strict action against those responsible. Taking cognisance of the allegations, Mumbai Police formally constituted the SIT on Tuesday to carry out a detailed probe.

Advisory for Citizens:

Residents are urged to verify their birth certificates. The QR code on the document can be scanned to check authenticity against official BMC records. Moreover, all certificates issued after 2016 should be available on the central Civil Registration System (CRS) for verification.