Trio producing fake court docus nabbed

THANE: A three-member gang involved in the creation of fake court documents for accused was busted by the Ulhasnagar crime branch unit on July 30. The trio would wait outside courts and make fake bonds, enabling accused people to be released from custody. The names of the accused could not be disclosed as it would jeopardise investigations, police said. Police Inspector Manohar Patil and his team recovered 45 rubber stamps, 51 bogus ration cards, 318 gram panachayat tax receipts and Aadhaar cards being used in the manufacture of fake documents which were then produced in courts as proof to secure the release of accused people. A case was registered against them under sections for cheating 420, 419, 467, 468, 472, 34 of the Indian Penal Code. According to Patil, a trap was laid for the accused before their arrest. "After receiving a tip-off, we informed our superiors of the modus operandi. Our team laid a trap near Kalyan court and the trio was successfully nabbed on July 30. During interrogation, they admitted to their crime. The accused were produced in court and remanded in police custody until August 7". The police said the accused had deceived courts in Kalyan, Thane and Ulhasnagar in the last one year. At least 125 to 150 people have been duped by the three accused, police said. More people may be part of this racket, suspect police. They will also investigate other accused who have recently been released on bail.