Sanwer police have lodged a case against Mohammad Salamuddin Barkati after a departmental complaint alleged he used counterfeit papers to claim the Shahar Qazi post in Sanwer tehsil.
Indore – Sanwer police registered a case on Thursday against Mohammad Salamuddin Barkati, accusing him of fabricating paperwork to declare himself the Shahar Qazi of Sanwer tehsil. The charge sheet cites sections 318(4), 217(a) and 212(a) of the Backward Classes and Minority Welfare (BNS) Act, and the investigation is still underway.
The complaint originated from the Department of Backwards Classes and Minority Welfare at the Indore Collectorate. According to the filing, Barkati, a Sanwer resident, allegedly suppressed facts, supplied false information and misused a court order to produce forged documents. With those papers, he is said to have sent letters to senior government offices, seeking official recognition as the Shahar Qazi.
An inquiry led by the Assistant Director of the same department concluded that the information Barkati presented was false, misleading and ran contrary to established regulations. Police noted that the documents appeared to be fabricated and that Barkati had deliberately tried to bypass the normal appointment process.
While the case focuses on the alleged forgery, the police report also mentions a separate cheating complaint lodged in Chhoti Gwaltoli. That case involves former bank manager Kumar Mayank, accused of diverting Rs 15 lakh meant for a bank scheme into an associate’s account. Authorities have filed charges under sections 408 and 420 of the IPC, and investigations continue.
Both incidents shows a spate of fraud-related complaints hitting Madhya Pradesh’s administrative machinery this month. Officials say they are tightening scrutiny over document verification, especially for posts that carry religious or community significance.
Legal experts caution that the outcome will hinge on forensic analysis of the disputed papers and the court order allegedly misused by Barkati. If proven, the charges could lead to a conviction under the BNS Act, which carries penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment.
For now, the Department of Backwards Classes and Minority Welfare has not released a statement on any interim measures, and Barkati remains in police custody pending further inquiry. The case adds to a growing list of alleged document frauds that have surfaced across the state, prompting calls for stricter oversight.
The next procedural step will be a court hearing where the prosecution will present its evidence. Observers will be watching to see whether the forged documents can be definitively linked to the alleged appointment attempts. Until then, the matter remains under investigation, and the legal process will determine the final outcome.
What’s next?
A magistrate is expected to schedule a hearing within the next two weeks. If convicted, Barkati could face a multi‑year sentence, and the department may tighten its vetting protocols for religious posts.
Stay tuned for updates as the case develops.
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