By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Haldwani, 21 Nov: Banbhupura area in Haldwani often remains in news for the wrong reasons. The latest such incident is the exposure of a gang creating Permanent Residence Certificates (PRCs) using forged documents in the name of Kumaon Commissioner Deepak Rawat. It may be recalled that when this news had hit the headlines, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami ordered an enquiry into all PRCs issued over the past three years.
Acting on the instructions of the Nainital District Magistrate, an investigation is underway into PRCs issued in Haldwani Tehsil during the last five years. In the first phase, certificates belonging to the Banbhulpura area are being scrutinised. Out of 200 certificates checked, documents attached to 48 were found suspicious, following which the SDM has cancelled all 48. The probe into the use of fake documents to obtain PRCs is continuing across every tehsil of the district under the directive to verify all PRCs issued in the last five years.
The investigation into around 150 PRCs issued in Haldwani Tehsil has already revealed startling facts. During inspection, the team found documents attached to 48 PRCs to be fraudulent, leading to their cancellation by the SDM Haldwani. SDM Rahul Shah stated that in the first phase, PRCs from Banbhulpura are being investigated, with verification of phone numbers and the supporting documents currently underway.
It may be recalled that a few days ago, a complaint was received at the Kumaon Commissioner’s Janata Darbar that a person who had arrived from Bareilly two months earlier had managed to obtain a PRC using fake documents. When the Commissioner ordered a confidential enquiry, it was discovered that a document writer had facilitated the creation of the PRC in Haldwani Tehsil. Commissioner Rawat subsequently raided a Common Service Centre (CSC) in Banbhulpura, where several documents were recovered. A case was registered against the accused CSC coordinator Faizan and the purported beneficiary Laiq. Police investigation further revealed the involvement of an Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited employee. Banbhulpura police arrested all three accused and sent them to jail.
SDM Rahul Shah confirmed that documents are being checked daily and efforts are being made to complete verification of all certificates within the next 10 to 15 days. He added that the administration is keeping a close watch on several document writers, with notices already issued to some. If any licence is found to be illegal, action will be taken to cancel it. The crackdown has sent a strong message across the region, as the administration intensifies its efforts to curb fraudulent practices in the issuance of residence certificates.
