BMC Suspends Health Official for Fraudulent Birth Certificates

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is set to suspend a health department official from the M/East ward for allegedly issuing fraudulent birth certificates to Bangladeshi nationals residing illegally in Mumbai. This decision follows a directive from suburban guardian minister Ashish Shelar, who has called for immediate disciplinary measures against those implicated in the scam.

On March 5, 2025, Shelar instructed municipal commissioner Bhushan Gagrani to take swift action. “I have directed the BMC to suspend the officer responsible for the questionable certificates. The civic body has also been asked to file a police complaint against those involved in the racket,” Shelar stated in an interview with Hindustan Times.

Kirit Somaiya, a former Member of Parliament and an advocate against fraudulent birth certificates, described this suspension as a significant action in addressing the issue of illegal immigrant documentation in Mumbai. Gagrani confirmed that the official in question would indeed face suspension.

Allegations suggest that over 200 fake birth certificates were issued in the M/East ward, with 100 in 2024 and 102 in 2025. Somaiya claims that the medical officer/registrar and other staff members colluded with agents to facilitate these irregularities. He conducted inspections of seven hospitals in the area alongside senior municipal officials and police officers between November and December 2024. “These hospitals did not even exist, yet birth registrations were shown to have been done through them,” he asserted.

In response to the growing concerns surrounding this fraudulent activity, the Maharashtra government formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) in January 2025 to investigate the delayed birth registration scam. Despite these efforts, Somaiya noted that 102 fake certificates were still issued this year. He has called for the suspension of both current and former medical officers of the ward involved in these activities, claiming to have filed 29 FIRs across the state related to similar fraudulent certificates, implicating 1,611 individuals.

BMC health department officials have expressed concerns that the issue is being politicized by the BJP, particularly with upcoming civic body elections on the horizon. As the investigation unfolds, the implications of these fraudulent practices not only affect the administration but also raise broader questions about immigration and public health regulations in the region.

The BMC’s commitment to tackling this issue reflects a growing awareness of the challenges posed by illegal immigration and the need for stringent measures to ensure the integrity of public records.