Team Herald
MARGAO: Fatorda police have arrested Jose D’Souza and Gerald in connection with a fake residence certificate racket. The duo has been charged with fraud, impersonation, forgery, and cheating, allegedly facilitating the registration of marriages using forged documents.
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The arrests come after the South Goa Advocates’ Association (SGAA) lodged a petition with the Superintendent of Police, South Goa, highlighting widespread misuse of forged residence certificates at the Sub-Registrar’s Office in Margao.
The association had alleged that fraudulent residence certificates were being used to register marriages, compromising the integrity of the marriage registration process.
“It has come to our attention that numerous forged residence certificates are being submitted at the Sub-Registrar’s Office in Margao. These certificates are allegedly issued by agents or touts, some of whom falsely claim to be advocates, tarnishing the reputation of the legal fraternity,” stated Advocate Prasad Naik, President of the South Goa Advocates’ Association, in the petition.
In Goa, marriage registration requires one of the parties to produce a valid residence certificate to prove local residency. However, investigations have revealed that some individuals obtain forged residence certificates to register marriages, often with ulterior motives.
Upon inquiry at the Sub-Registrar’s Office in Salcete, officials confirmed that they had already alerted authorities about such fraudulent activities. Despite this, the police had not taken action, raising concerns about potential patronage or complicity with the accused.
The petition further alleged that police inaction has emboldened the perpetrators. “Non-action by the police allows criminals to continue their illegal activities unchecked. This raises a serious concern as to whether these individuals are acting in connivance with authorities,” the association claimed.
In addition to fake residence certificates, the petition also pointed out that other forged documents, such as name correction certificates, were being accepted at the Sub-Registrar’s Office in Salcete.
Following these revelations, the Sub-Registrar’s Office filed a complaint with Fatorda police, urging strict action against touts involved in document forgery.
With the arrest of Jose D’Souza and Gerald, authorities are expected to intensify their investigation into the extent of the scam and the involvement of other individuals.
