Fake Bail Guarantor Racket Exposed, Two Pune Lawyers Among 11 Arrested, 24 Cases Detected
Pune: Wanawadi police busted a gang that provided fake guarantors and forged documents to secure bail for criminals. The police have arrested 11 people, including two lawyers, while the main accused remains on the run. The racket involved the use of fraudulent identity documents, forged signatures, and counterfeit seals to mislead the judiciary.
Modus Operandi
After criminals were remanded to judicial custody in Yerawada Jail, their relatives struggled to find genuine bail guarantors. Taking advantage of this, the accused—working in collusion with lawyers—arranged fake guarantors in exchange for money. These fraudulent guarantors would submit fake identity documents, including:
Forged Aadhaar cards, ration cards, and land records
Counterfeit signatures and rubber stamps
False affidavits submitted in court
By creating an illusion of authenticity, the accused were able to secure bail for criminals using fraudulent means.
Crackdown and Arrests
The case came to light when the police uncovered a fraudulent bail attempt. Acting on directives from Police Commissioner Dr. Rajkumar Shinde, a special team launched an investigation. The first arrests included Santoshkumar Telang and five other fake guarantors. As the probe deepened, authorities discovered that the main mastermind, Farhan alias Bablu Shaikh, had fled.
Further investigation led to the arrest of six more individuals, including lawyers Aslam Sayyed and Suresh Jadhav. Another suspect, Darshan Shah, who manufactured the fake rubber stamps, was also taken into custody. The police seized counterfeit rubber stamps, machinery, and fake documents.
Additionally, two more accused, Piraji Shinde and Gopal Kangane, were caught supplying fake ration cards. The police confiscated:
95 ration cards
11 fake Aadhaar cards
Multiple mobile phones and a two-wheeler
Fake Guarantors Across Maharashtra
Investigations have revealed that fake bail guarantors were recruited from Mumbai, Thane, and surrounding rural areas. The accused lured these individuals with money and used forged identity documents to deceive the courts. Some of the bail amounts collected from criminals’ relatives were distributed among the fake guarantors. So far, the police have uncovered 24 cases of fraudulent bail applications, and the investigation is ongoing.
Legal Action and Investigation
The arrested suspects have been remanded to police custody, while efforts to track down absconding accused Farhan alias Bablu Shaikh are underway. The operation was led by DCP Dr. Rajkumar Shinde, with key involvement from Senior Inspector Satyajit Adamane, Inspector Govind Jadhav, and Sub-Inspector Dhanaji Tone, along with a dedicated police team.
