7 govt staff involved in fake Vidhan Bhavan entry pass suspended

The employees were arrested on March 26 by Marine Drive police on charges of forgery and cheating and were in police custody for over two days before being remanded to judicial custody

Mumbai: Seven government employees posted at Vidhan Bhavan and in the labour minister’s office have been suspended following their arrest for allegedly forging and selling fake Vidhan Bhavan entry passes for up to ₹5,000 during last month’s budget session.

7 govt staff involved in fake Vidhan Bhavan entry pass suspended

The employees were arrested on March 26 by Marine Drive police on charges of forgery and cheating and were in police custody for over two days before being remanded to judicial custody.

Officials said the suspensions were carried out as per service rules mandating action against employees held in police custody beyond 48 hours.

Police said the group created fake passes using forged Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) letterheads and issued them in the name of a consultant linked to the chief minister’s office.

The racket surfaced after industries minister Uday Samant raised the issue, claiming the passes were being sold between ₹2,000 and ₹5,000. An FIR was subsequently filed by Vidhan Bhavan security staff. Following the complaint, legislative council chairman Ram Shinde ordered an inquiry into the security breach at Vidhan Bhavan.

Five accused were arrested on March 26, while two others who had fled surrendered after two days. The accused included peons and clerks working at Vidhan Bhavan and in labour minister Akash Fundkar’s office.