Pune: A major scam involving the issuance of fake death certificates has been uncovered in Pune Municipal Corporation's Health Department, raising serious concerns over the transparency of municipal records. The scam, exposed by Dighi Police in Raigad, involved forging death records for financial gain. Two data entry operators employed by a contractor have been arrested, while several municipal officials are now under investigation.
The case came to light during an investigation into a land fraud complaint filed by Ramkumar Brahmadatt Agarwal in Dighi Police Station. The accused had allegedly created a fake identity resembling Rajkumar Agarwal, presented false witnesses, and prepared forged sale documents.
During the probe, police discovered a death record stating that Rajkumar Agarwal had passed away in Santosh Nagar, Katraj. However, further inquiry revealed that the death certificate—which listed the date of death as May 25, 2021—was only officially recorded on April 12, 2024.
Suspecting foul play, Dighi Police sought supporting documents from the Dhanakwadi-Sahakarnagar ward office. They found that no application or supporting documents were available, confirming that the certificate had been fabricated.
Police arrested two data entry operators, Swapnil Nigde and Shubham Pasalkar, for falsifying the death record in exchange for money. As the investigation expands, former Registrar and Regional Medical Officer Dr. Amit Shah and other officials have been summoned for questioning.
Following the revelations, Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) Health Chief Dr. Neena Borade has ordered a thorough investigation into the incident. The Health Department has sought a detailed report from the Dhanakwadi Ward Office and has instructed:
Former Birth and Death Registration Head Dr. Kalpana Balivant and current department head Dr. Suryakant Devkar to submit an inquiry report.
Dr. Amit Shah to provide a formal explanation regarding the incident.
Weak Oversight in Data Entry Raises Concerns
The birth and death registration process in Pune is managed by Vidya Computer Services, a contracted agency. Their employees are responsible for verifying hospital records, doctors' certificates, and cremation documents before processing a death certificate. The final review and digital signature are done by the regional medical officer and registrar.
However, in this case, the standard process was bypassed, allowing the issuance of a fraudulent certificate without proper verification. Authorities now fear that this loophole may have enabled a larger racket in fake death certificates.
"No official documents supporting the death certificate were found in municipal records. We have provided the police with all available data they requested. Additionally, since the birth and death registration software is managed by the Central Government, they have been informed about the matter as well."
– Dr. Neena Borade, Health Chief, Pune Municipal Corporation