Population 1,500, Births 27,397 in Just Three Months: Massive Fake Birth Certificate Scam Exposed in Yavatmal Village

A shocking case of large-scale cyber fraud has surfaced from Shendurusani village in Maharashtra’s Yavatmal district, where official records show an impossible demographic explosion. Despite having a population of barely 1,500, the village registered an astonishing 27,397 births within just three months, raising serious concerns over the integrity of the civil registration system.

How the Scam Came to Light

According to official data, between September and November 2025, as many as 27,397 birth certificates were registered under the name of Shendurusani Gram Panchayat, while only five death registrations were recorded during the same period. The anomaly was detected during a routine inspection by the Health Department, triggering alarm bells at multiple administrative levels.

Allegations of Organized Cyber Fraud

BJP leader and former MP Kirit Somaiya, who visited the village after the revelations, termed the incident a case of organized cyber fraud. He alleged that nearly 99.99% of the registered names belonged to individuals from West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and nearby regions, falsely shown as residents of Shendurusani.

Somaiya claimed that the login credentials of the Gram Panchayat’s computer operator were misused to generate fake birth registrations on a massive scale. He said he has spoken to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, demanding the immediate cancellation of all fraudulent birth certificates.

Official Investigation and Technical Findings

Following the disclosure, the District Health Officer (DHO) lodged a formal complaint with the Yavatmal police. The DHO also sought clarification from the Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla Parishad, leading to the formation of an investigation committee headed by the Deputy CEO of the Panchayat Department.

The inquiry revealed that:

• The 27,397 birth records and seven death records did not fall within the jurisdiction of Shendurusani Gram Panchayat.
• A technical audit conducted through the Deputy Director of Health Services, Pune, confirmed that the CRS ID (MH18241RE) of Shendurusani was digitally linked to Mumbai, not Yavatmal.
• Further investigation by the Office of the Additional Registrar General of India in New Delhi and the National Informatics Centre (NIC) established that the registrations were carried out through cyber manipulation of the system.

The findings were officially communicated on December 11 and subsequently reported to the district administration.

Police Probe Underway

Police Inspector Nandkishor Kale confirmed that a formal complaint has been received regarding irregularities in birth registrations and that a detailed investigation is underway. Law enforcement agencies are now working to identify and dismantle the network behind the scam, which is suspected to have implications far beyond a single village.

Serious Questions on System Security

This unprecedented incident has raised serious questions about data security, misuse of government login systems, and the vulnerability of civil registration records, which are critical for citizenship, welfare benefits, and identity documents.

Authorities have assured strict action against all those involved, while the state government is expected to review and strengthen safeguards to prevent such frauds in the future.