Mumbai: A special investigation team (SIT) headed by the joint commissioner of police (crime) will probe the fake birth registration certificates being issued to illegal foreign nationals.The SIT will examine the alleged manipulation of official records and identify those responsible. In Feb, Mumbai police had registered an FIR against two former BMC medical health department officials who allegedly approved birth certificates without verifying the required documentation.Somaiya alleged that in 2024 and 2025, while new birth certificates were being issued under the SAP system —ostensibly in the name of correcting birth records— 33,772 records were simultaneously being registered under the new CRS portal. The simultaneous maintenance of records under both the old, defunct SAP system and the new CRS portal is a major scam perpetrated with the collusion with BMC health department officials.Somaiya alleged that across all the 26 BMC wards, 87,347 birth certificates were issued illegally under the SAP system, which was discontinued in December 2015. “The CRS system was started on January 1, 2016 and all certificates had to be issued through the CRS system. But in the last two years, abnormal additions were carried out through the SAP system. They were using both systems simultaneously. The CRS too has a section for old entries, but they used the SAP system. These 87,347 records/certificates were issued under the pretext of “corrections. Under the pretext of making corrections on the SAP system, birth certificates were issued after carrying out extensive and significant alterations to the original data,” Somaiya said. “If there are minor spelling mistakes, corrections will be done immediately, why will you do it after about 40 years?There are instances of corrections carried out by those who are middle aged,” questioned Somaiya, adding that this is a fraud. Somaiya further said that the BMC is avoiding cancelling all the 87,347 certificates. The Mayor has directed the civic administration to cancel all the certificates, but BMC is dithering, Somaiya added.
