Maha forms SIT to check illegal immigration

The Maharashtra Government has set up a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the issuance of birth and death certificates on “delayed” applications amid complaints of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh living in parts of the state, an official from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said on Saturday.

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The SIT, led by Inspector General Datta Karale, would probe delayed applications, which are made at least a year after the birth or death of a person.

The issue of Bangladeshis entering India and residing in the country illegally has gained prominence after the arrest of a Bangladeshi national, Shariful Islam Shehzad Mohammad Rohilla Amin Fakir, for the knife attack on actor Saif Ali Khan in Mumbai.

Confirming the development, Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said the probe would cover certificates already issued and applications received. The government's decision to form a probe team follows BJP leader Kirit Somaiya's allegation of a birth certificate scam.

The former MP has alleged that 269 delayed birth registration orders were issued by the magistrate court of Akola City between January 2021 and December 2023. But the tehsildar gave orders to register 4,849 delayed birth applications.