Ahmedabad, November 24: The Ahmedabad police have arrested a 29-year-old man accused of impersonating a senior revenue official and using fake documents to defraud people. The accused, identified as Mehul Shah, allegedly issued counterfeit letters from various government departments to deceive victims, police said on Sunday.
Accused Managed Schools, Used Fake Documents
Inspector J.K. Makwana from the Crime Branch stated that Mehul Shah, an engineer from Wankaner in Gujarat’s Morbi district, managed two schools and is accused of cheating individuals out of lakhs of rupees through forged documents and false claims.
One victim alleged that Shah created a fake appointment letter from the Ahmedabad District Education Officer (DEO), offering a government computer operator job for his son. Shah also claimed to be a school trustee and failed to pay ₹7 lakh owed to a person for painting a school building.
Fake Government Letters and Fraudulent Claims
Despite holding no official position in any state or central government department, Shah allegedly used fake work permits and No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to swindle people out of large sums of money. In one case, he presented a forged letter claiming to be the chairman of the Department of Science and Research Development and demanded a rented vehicle equipped with a siren and curtains. The promised payment for the service was never made.
Police revealed that Shah used fake letters bearing the names of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ahmedabad DEO, and other prestigious titles to mislead his victims. These included “Bharat Gaurav Ratna Shri Samman Parishad,” “Chairman of the Department of Science and Research Development,” and “Health and Family Welfare Department.”
Ongoing Investigation and Appeal for More Complaints
The police have recovered forged identity cards and official-looking documents from Shah’s possession. Inspector Makwana confirmed that an FIR has been registered based on complaints from three victims. “We urge anyone who has been defrauded by Mehul Shah to come forward and register their complaint,” he added.
The case highlights the growing misuse of government titles and documents in fraudulent schemes, prompting law enforcement to urge vigilance among the public.
