Archive · 18 Sep 2026
Bhopal Police Probe Fake Passports, Forged Birth Certificates
Police in Bhopal are investigating people who may have used fake birth certificates to obtain passports.
Five certificates were checked by the Bhopal Municipal Corporation.
The corporation found no records for those certificates.
The papers looked similar to real certificates, but their QR and bar codes did not work.
Officials also said some signatures did not match the registrar’s tenure.
Police registered a case against five people for allegedly making and using forged documents.
Investigators are checking other passport applications connected to Buddha Vihar addresses.
One report linked 30 passports to Buddha Vihar Colony and 39 to Ashok Buddha Vihar, while another referred to 40 applications from the Anna Nagar address.
The investigation also concerns people authorities believe may have migrated from Bangladesh to India.
Police found five birth certificates allegedly used in passport applications that had no matching records at the Bhopal Municipal Corporation.
The certificates resembled genuine documents, but their QR and bar codes could not be scanned or verified.
BMC said signatures attributed to a former registrar did not match the officer’s tenure and reported the findings to Govindpura police.
Police registered an FIR against five individuals under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Passport Act.
Authorities are examining passport applications linked to Buddha Vihar addresses, with reports citing either 69 passports across two locations or 40 applications from one address.
- Who
- Govindpura police, the Bhopal Municipal Corporation, the Special Task Force and five applicants are central to the investigation.
- What
- Five allegedly forged birth certificates were used or submitted during passport applications, prompting an FIR and wider document checks.
- When
- The certificates were verified during an investigation lasting nearly two years; the reports mention passport activity in 2021–2025.
- Where
- The investigation is centered in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, including the BMC and Buddha Vihar addresses in Govindpura and Anna Nagar.
- Why
- The case emerged during an investigation into applicants’ citizenship and people allegedly migrating from Bangladesh to India.
- Birth certificates examined
- Five
- BMC verification finding
- No records were found for the five certificates
- Reported passports linked to two Buddha Vihar locations
- 30 at Buddha Vihar Colony and 39 at Ashok Buddha Vihar
- Passport applications cited from one Buddha Vihar address
- 40 applications, according to police
- Passport years cited in the investigation
- 2021, 2022 and 2023 in one report; 2023–2025 for applications in another
- Police action
- An FIR was registered against five individuals
- Documents’ technical problem
- QR and bar codes could not be scanned
