With the arrest of three women on Monday, revenue officials have unearthed a fake certificate racket in Vellore. While several fake certificates were seized from them, the police are on the lookout for Saravanan, the kingpin behind the racket.
A team led by S. Balaji, tahsildar of Vellore taluk, along with police personnel carried out checks following a complaint about a fake birth certificate that was issued to a 15-year-old girl. The certificate did not bear any reference number or serial number.
Based on this complaint, the officials conducted raids from 11.30 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the houses of three women – Mary, a resident of Rangasamy Street, Sumathi, of Saidapet and Shanthi, of Sankaranpalayam. Sumathi and Shanthi were petition writers near the Vellore Taluk office.
The officials nabbed Shanthi from her house, and she led them to Sumathi. Based on information from Sumathi, they nabbed Mary.
However, Mary’s paramour, Saravanan, was the kingpin behind the fake certificate racket, and is absconding.
No seals found
“Shanthi and Sumathi – both petition writers – persuaded people coming to the taluk office, and collected money from them promising to get them certificates. They gave the money to Mary and Saravanan for preparing the fake certificates,” Mr. Balaji said. The officials seized several fake certificates including community and income certificates from their houses. However, they did not find any seals during the check.
Vellore South police have registered a case and are on the lookout for Saravanan. Mr. Balaji said they were preparing flex banners to be installed in and around the taluk office to caution public not to fall prey to such malpractices.
