Archive · 13 Aug 2026
Maharashtra minister Girish Mahajan's relative arrested in Kumbh tender fraud
A man related to an important government minister in Maharashtra, India, has been arrested by the police.
The police say he and two other men tricked people who run businesses.
They promised the business owners big contracts to do work for a huge festival called the Kumbh Mela.
The Kumbh Mela is a very large religious gathering that is planned for Nashik in 2027 and 2028.
To seem trusted, the men created fake papers that looked like they came from government offices.
They even copied the signature of a high-ranking government official, called the Divisional Commissioner.
Business owners were cheated out of about Rs 2.17 crore.
The minister, Girish Mahajan, said the arrested man is his relative but he is not connected to the wrongdoing.
He promised that strict action will be taken.
Tanay Anant Mahajan (32), a relative of Maharashtra minister Girish Mahajan, has been arrested in the alleged Rs 2.17 crore Kumbh Mela tender fraud case.
Nashik City Police filed four FIRs against the accused for cheating contractors with fake work orders for the 2027-28 Nashik Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela.
The other accused are Narendra Totaram Mahajan (51) and Shakeel Ahmad Salimuddin Shaikh, with the two Mahajans hailing from Jamner.
The accused allegedly used forged government documents, including fabricated digital signatures of the Nashik Divisional Commissioner, on fake work orders.
Promised contracts included housekeeping, buckets, mattresses and bedding, food and water supplies, and solar power systems; Girish Mahajan, a BJP leader, distanced himself and promised strict action.
- Who
- Tanay Anant Mahajan (32), relative of Maharashtra minister Girish Mahajan, along with Narendra Totaram Mahajan (51) and Shakeel Ahmad Salimuddin Shaikh; booked by Nashik City Police.
- What
- Alleged Rs 2.17 crore tender fraud using forged government documents and fake work orders offering Kumbh Mela contracts.
- When
- Arrest date not specified in the article; the case relates to the 2027-28 Nashik Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela.
- Where
- Nashik, Maharashtra; the accused Mahajans are from Jamner.
- Why
- The accused allegedly cheated contractors by promising them Kumbh Mela-related contracts.
- Case
- Kumbh Mela tender fraud involving fake work orders
- Alleged fraud amount
- Rs 2.17 crore
- Accused
- Tanay Anant Mahajan (32), Narendra Totaram Mahajan (51), Shakeel Ahmad Salimuddin Shaikh
- FIRs registered
- Four FIRs by Nashik City Police
- Event
- 2027-28 Nashik Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela
- Method
- Forged work orders with fabricated digital signatures of the Divisional Commissioner
- Fake contracts promised
- Housekeeping, buckets, mattresses and bedding, food and water supplies, solar power systems
- Minister's response
- Girish Mahajan distanced himself and promised strict action