Calcutta HC Orders State Police To Investigate ‘False’ Writ Petition With Forged Signatures

The Calcutta High Court recently ordered the West Bengal Police to investigate a “false” writ petition submitted before it using the forged signatures of nearly eight people, one of whom died in 2021.

A single bench of Justice Md Nizamuddin was astonished to learn that a writ petition by members of a cooperative society was filed on the basis of roughly eight of the total of nineteen members’ false signatures.

“This is a serious criminal offence committed before this High Court by filing this fake writ petition in the name of those persons by forging their signatures who have not authorised the petitioner No.1 to file this writ petition on their behalf,” Justice Nizamuddin remarked.

On March 23, 19 petitioners who claimed to be members of a Cooperative Society filed a writ petition in favor of Advocate Pabitra Charan Bhattacharjee by executing proper Vakalatnama.

Petitioner No. 1 Harish Chandra Gain stated in his affidavit to the writ petition that he has been lawfully authorized by the other 18 petitioners.

Appearing for the Co-operative Society, Advocate Subrata Kumar Basu informed the bench that out of other 18 petitioners, eight petitioners have not authorised Harish Chandra Gain to file this writ petition.

He also claimed that the writ petition was affirmed and filed in the name of a deceased individual, petitioner no.17, by forging his signature in the Vakalatnama.

“On the basis of facts before him, learned Counsel for respondent Nos. 3 and 4 contends that at least eight of those petitioners have clearly sworn before him that they even do not aware that this writ petition has been filed in their names,” the order reads.

The single bench asked the ADGP, CID, West Bengal, to begin necessary criminal proceedings and conduct a full-fledged investigation into all those involved in such criminal offence committed in court, and to take appropriate action.

The matter is lister for further hearing on April 12,2023.