The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered two FIRs — one against a Mumbai resident, and the other against a Chennai-based power company — for allegedly sending forged letters in the name of the Prime Minister’s Office to government establishments for their personal interests.
According to CBI officers, the FIRs were registered after Assistant Director P.K. Issar from the PMO submitted complaint letters last year.
“The first FIR has been registered against Mohammed Salim, secretary of the Ghausia Compound housing society in Bandra (east). It was found that the accused sent a letter dated November 27, 2017 to the office of the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, which was supposedly signed by Debashree Mukharjee, Joint Secretary to the PM,” a CBI officer said.
The officer added that the letter favoured a Navi Mumbai-based developer named Vilayati Ram Mittal in connection with the development of the Ghausia Compound, and also alleged that some local authorities were favouring other developers. Mr. Salim is also alleged to have submitted a copy of the letter to the Grievance Redressal Committee, Mumbai in November 2017.
The second letter, also in the name of Ms. Mukharjee, was allegedly forged, by Ujagar Singh, Director (Projects) and Chief Executive Officer of M/s Ariya Nangai Biofuel and Power Pvt Ltd, which has its registered office in Vangaram, Chennai.
“The forged letter was addressed to the Director, Research and Development (Engineers), Defence Research and Development Organisation laboratory in Pune, and asked that the company’s biofuel be tested and a report be provided. The letter was received by fax on January 5, 2018,” the CBI officer said.
The officer added that in April 2018, Mr. Issar wrote to the CBI stating that the letters had not been issued by the PMO, after which the CBI initiated investigations. Subsequently, FIRs were filed on Thursday.
“Both FIRs have been registered for attempt to commit offence, forgery for cheating and using forged document as genuine under the Indian Penal Code. We are probing for a common link in both cases as both the letters were issued in the name of the same official from the PMO,” the officer added.