A major security breach has surfaced during the recent budget session in Mumbai, where the Vidhan Bhavan was reportedly accessed using forged entry passes. The Marine Drive Police have detained five individuals, including government employees, for their alleged involvement in producing and circulating counterfeit passes. The issue came to light after Uday Samant raised concerns about suspicious documents being used to enter the premises. Initial findings suggest that fake requisition letters were prepared in the name of the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation, which were then used to generate nearly 30 fraudulent entry passes.
According to reports, the operation involved a network of clerks and support staff working in government offices who allegedly collaborated with a private individual to misuse the system. The accused have been identified as Dattatraya Keshav Gunjal, Ganpat Bhau Jawale, Nagesh Shivaji Patil, Manoj Ananda Morbale and Swapnil Ramesh Tayde. Meanwhile, two other Mantralaya employees—Mahesh Dumpalwar and Lavesh Shankar Nakate—are currently on the run. Investigators believe the group functioned in coordination, taking advantage of internal loopholes to carry out the illegal activity.
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The forged passes were reportedly sold for amounts ranging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000, pointing to a clear financial motive. In one case, Gunjal allegedly created a pass identifying himself as an ‘advisor to the Chief Minister’s Office,’ complete with his photograph and a fake Mantralaya stamp. Officials suspect that such a serious lapse could not have occurred without assistance from insiders. As part of the inquiry, a constable from the Local Arms unit has also been questioned. Authorities emphasized that the matter is extremely sensitive, as it involves a high-security government facility.
All five accused were taken into custody on March 25, and their mobile phones have been confiscated for forensic examination. Investigators are now working to trace individuals who may have used these fake passes to gain access to the Vidhan Bhavan complex. Special teams have been deployed to locate the absconding suspects and to uncover the full scope of the racket. The incident has triggered serious concerns over security arrangements at one of Maharashtra’s most critical administrative centers, particularly during an important legislative session.