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Kolkata, June 21 — In a decisive move to tackle the growing menace of fake identity documents, the West Bengal Health Department has announced stringent multi-tier verification measures before uploading new birth certificates to its official website. The decision comes after authorities uncovered a major fake document racket operating from Pathankhali in the Gosaba block of South 24 Parganas district.
Investigators found that counterfeit birth certificates were being uploaded and subsequently used to obtain other forged identity documents such as Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, voter IDs, and even Indian passports. Officials noted that once a fake birth certificate is uploaded, it becomes extremely difficult for issuing authorities to detect its inauthenticity, as most verification processes rely on the official portal.
A senior health department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, explained, “Generally, the issuing authorities of these identity documents verify birth certificates through the official portal. Once a forged certificate is uploaded, it becomes extremely difficult to detect its authenticity. Hence, multi-tier verification will now be mandatory before uploading any certificate”.
Apart from tightening scrutiny for new uploads, the department will also continue removing previously uploaded certificates that have been flagged as fake by the Kolkata Police and West Bengal Police. The crackdown follows revelations that some passports obtained using these forged documents have already been used for international travel.
Disclaimer:
This news article is based on information sourced from publicly available reports and official statements. The accuracy of specific allegations and ongoing investigations may be subject to further verification by competent authorities. Readers are advised to rely on official updates for the latest developments.
