Navi Mumbai: In a significant case of fraud and forgery, the Panvel City Police have launched an investigation into Piyush Enterprises, a transport company accused of allegedly evading government royalties worth lakhs of rupees by using fake minor mineral transport receipts. These receipts allegedly bore a forged seal of the Raigad District Mining Officer and were used to facilitate illegal transport of stone and other minor minerals from Panvel and Uran regions.
The scam surfaced after the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) submitted suspicious documents to the Raigad District Collector’s office in December 2024. Following the submission, a detailed verification was ordered by the District Collector. Sub-Divisional Officer Meenakshi Gondhali led the inquiry and confirmed that the transport receipt books were counterfeit and carried fake official seals.
“These receipts were not issued by any authorized government agency. The forged seal of the District Mining Officer was used to give them an appearance of legitimacy,” Gondhali mentioned in her complaint. She further mentuoned that the fake books were traced back to Piyush Enterprises.
Based on her findings, a formal complaint was filed at the Panvel City Police Station. Police have registered a case under sections related to cheating, forgery, and revenue loss under the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code.
“Initial evidence suggests that the fake receipts were used extensively to avoid paying government royalty fees for the transport of minor minerals,” said an investigating officer, adding, “We are now investigating where these receipts were printed and how the counterfeit government seals were manufactured.”
Authorities suspect a wider network may be involved and are expanding the scope of the investigation. The scam has raised serious concerns over unchecked mineral transportation and revenue leaks in the region.
