FIR against two for forging letters in PMO’s name

Mumbai: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday registered separate FIRs against two entities in connection with the use of forged letters in the name of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to government establishments for their personal interests.

One of the accused is a Mumbai resident while the other one is Chennai-based power company. According to CBI officers, the FIRs were registered based on the complaint received from assistant director P.K. Issar from the PMO last year.

“The first FIR has been registered against Mohammed Salim, secretary of Ghausia Compound housing society in Bandra. The accused sent a letter dated November 27, 2017 to the Maharashtra chief minister’s office, 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 for 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 Private Limited, which has its registered office in Vangaram, Chennai.

“The forged letter was addressed to the director, research and developme-nt (Engineers), Defence Research and Development Organisation laboratory in Pune, and asked that the company’s biofuel be tested and a report of the same 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, the FIRs were filed on Thursday.

“We are probing for a common link in both cases,” the officer added.

“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 officialfrom the PMO,” the officer,” the officer added.