Nagpur, India: The Maharashtra government has taken strict action to prevent the misuse of birth and death certificates. Due to concerns over fraudulent documents being used by illegal immigrants, new rules have been introduced to tighten the verification process.

The government has stopped issuing birth and death certificates for applications submitted more than a year after the event. This decision aims to prevent people from using delayed registrations to get fake documents.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has also been set up to look into suspicious birth and death certificates. The team, led by Inspector General Datta Karale, will check cases where certificates were issued more than a year after the event. If any fraud is found, strict action will be taken.

The verification process for birth and death certificates has now become stricter. Applications delayed by more than a year will go through thorough checking, including police verification, to ensure that the details are correct.

These steps have been taken after reports claimed that a large number of illegal immigrants, including Bangladeshis and Rohingyas, had obtained fake birth certificates in Maharashtra. BJP leader Kirit Somaiya alleged that in the last six months, 2.14 lakh illegal immigrants applied for birth certificates, and around 1.13 lakh fake certificates were issued.

The Maharashtra government wants to ensure that only eligible people receive legal documents. With these new rules and investigations, authorities hope to stop fraud and keep the system fair.