A case has been filed at Chembur Police Station against a former municipal corporator for reportedly participating in elections with a counterfeit caste certificate, deceiving both the government and the public. The accused, identified as Ramesh Suresh Kamble, contested the 2002 BMC elections from a Scheduled Caste-reserved seat by presenting a false caste certificate claiming affiliation with the Hindu Mahar community. Despite winning the election and serving as a corporator, subsequent investigations revealed discrepancies in his caste identity.
Based on a complaint, Chembur Police have charged Ramesh Kamble under various sections of the Indian Penal Code related to forgery, cheating, and breach of trust. The Divisional Caste Scrutiny Committee found that Kamble, who had held public office from 2002 to 2006, was not a member of the Scheduled Caste as claimed but was actually a Christian by birth. Despite legal challenges in different courts, the authorities upheld the committee’s decision, leading to Kamble’s disqualification and the runner-up candidate assuming office.
The complaint alleges that Kamble knowingly utilized falsified documents to secure the invalid caste certificate, enabling him to contest elections and hold a public position for almost four years. The case remains under investigation as authorities delve deeper into the matter to ascertain the extent of the alleged fraud and deception.
