One nabbed for forging PMO's letter to Maharashtra CM

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested one person, Surendra Mittal, in connection with a fake letter issued from the PMO to the Maharshtra CMO, an official said here on Tuesday.

According to a complaint lodged by the PMO on February 27 this year, a purported letter dated November 27, 2017 on the PMO letterhead, bearing the signature of a Joint Secretary, was sent to the Maharashtra Chief Minister.

The letter sought to favour Messrs. Villayati Ram Mittal of Navi Mumbai, in connection with the development of a prime housing society plot in Ghausia Compound in Bandra East, Mumbai.

It further alleged that the local authorities were biased and favouring some other developers.

The letter also claimed that the Secretary of Bandra East Ghausia Compound Cooperative Housing Society Ltd had submitted an application dated December 11, 2017 along with a copy of the said purported letter to the Apex Grievance Redressal Committee, Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA), Mumbai.

On enquiries, the PMO informed that no such letter was sent by the officer and later investigations also revealed that the application/appeal was allegedly submitted on a letter letterhead of a legal firm, 'CDP & Company'.

However, the signature of the application was not of the lawyer, but was allegedly signed by the Secretary of the housing society along with its rubber stamp.

The CBI also found that the society Secretary, Salim Shaikh and Surinder Mittal allegedly possessed the copy of the PMO's letter of November 27, 2017 and used as genuine before the SRA.

The accused will be produced for remand before a CBI Court and further investigations are underway in the matter.

( With inputs from IANS )