4,600 Suspicious Marriage Certificates Set off Gujarat Regulation Modification Transfer

The racket that was first unearthed in 2024 in Bhadrala village of Sehra taluka concerned a doubtful marriage certificates issued by the now-suspended Talati-cum-Mantri (TCM) P M Parmar to a few from outdoors Gujarat state as a household filed an RTI plea searching for particulars of the wedding of their ward. When the TCM didn’t reply, the RTI attraction ended up with the Taluka Improvement Officer (TDO), who uncovered a surprising reality – over 300 marriage certificates had been issued to {couples} who didn’t even go to the villagelet apart reside there, an official from the district instructed The Indian Categorical. Some from states outdoors Gujarat had been issued marriage certificates.
The probe led to the invention of a billowing scandal. Parmar had issued a complete of two,242 marriage certificates not solely in Bhadrala but additionally in his postings in Malav (in Kalol taluka) and Kanbipalli (in Ghoghamba taluka). Whilst a departmental inquiry was ordered into the case of Parmar, extra instances started to emerge from the district, together with a case of a TCM from Kanjipani village, A Ok Meghwal, who purportedly claimed in a video that went viral that he had made “Rs 50 lakh in two years by simply issuing hundreds of marriage certificates to {couples} on the charge of Rs 2,500 per certificates”.

At current, a complete of 4,602 marriage certificates issued by Talatis within the district are beneath an inquiry. Officers of the district administration state that whereas the inquiry towards Parmar is full and a remaining choice on the motion to be initiated towards him is pending, Meghwal has been issued a chargesheet and is beneath suspension pending inquiry. Meghwal was additionally arrested by the Panchmahal police after an FIR was registered on the Jambughoda police station by the daddy of one of many ladies, who was granted a wedding certificates by Meghwal from Kanjipani village. The couple was additionally arrested within the case in December final 12 months.

Whereas Meghwal, within the video had claimed that he had issued 2000 certificates and “couldn’t be implicated”, a complete of 911 marriage certificates issued throughout his posting in Kanjipani, Kara and Udhvan in Jambughoda are beneath probe. These embody {couples} from 11 states of the nation, together with North East.

4 different TCMs – P A Patel, RC Bhoi, NC Solanki and DL Kamol – are dealing with departmental inquiry for issuing marriage certificates to {couples} for cash. Whereas but to be suspended like Parmar and Meghwal, the 4 TCMs have been issued chargesheets by the investigating officers of the division.

As per the information of the inquiry, Patel issued a complete of 871 marriage certificates in Nathkuva and Kankodakoi in Ghoghamba taluka, together with a nikaahnama that was cited by Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghvi on Friday. Solanki and Kamol, who served as TCM of Ghoghambha taluka’s Bhanpura and Kanbipalli villages issued a complete of 283 marriage certificates whereas Bhoi issued 25 certificates as Kalantra (in Kalol taluka).

An official of the administration mentioned, “The {couples} are directed to Panchmahal by brokers, who work in collusion with the locals and the officers. It could be unattainable for the {couples} to know which village talatis to method so it’s an organised racket that’s working via a sequence of brokers, native villagers and the officers… Not simply in Panchmahal but additionally within the neighbouring districts of Dahod and Mahisagar, comparable marriage certificates have been issued.”
The official provides that the wedding registrations may very well be referred to as legitimate and authorized if the wedding is solemnised within the villages the place the certificates are issued, whatever the residential handle of the bride and the groom. “Nonetheless, within the current case, the {couples} don’t appear to have even visited Panchmahal. The officers knowingly issued certificates for monetary achieve with out verifying paperwork…” the official mentioned.

When contacted, Deputy District Improvement Officer (DDO) DR Sangada mentioned, “The probe is ongoing within the instances the place the doubtful marriage certificates have been issued by the Talati/Mantris.”

Panchmahal District Superintendent of Police Haresh Dudhat instructed this newspaper that whereas Meghwal, the couple and one other accused have been arrested within the FIR lodged by the daddy of a lady in December final 12 months, no different FIR has been lodged because the district administration is but to lodge a grievance with the police following the inquiry within the issues.