Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], January 9 (HBTV): Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the allegations made by BJP leader Kirit Somaiya regarding the issuance of fake birth certificates to illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in Malegaon.

According to the Maharashtra Home Department, the SIT, which will be headed by Director Inspector General (DIG) Nasik, will include officers from both the district administration and police. The team has been tasked with investigating the matter and submitting a report along with recommendations to address the issue.

Afterwards, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya posted on X and thanked Maharashtra CM for forming the SIT on the issue.

'Birth certificate scam for Bangladeshi/Rohingya infiltrators in Malegaon. I thank Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for appointing a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate. This committee will investigate the illegal issuance of birth certificates to Bangladeshi/Rohingya infiltrators in Malegaon,' he said.

Notably, the anti-terror squad (ATS) of Maharashtra has arrested 60 illegal Bangladeshi immigrants across the state in 2024. In December 2024 alone, the ATS arrested 43 Bangladeshi nationals residing illegally.

In 2025, to date, four cases have been filed against the illegal Bangladeshi nationals, and six accused have been arrested. Most Bangladeshis have been arrested from Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and Thane.

'A total of 27 cases have been filed in 2023, and 52 accused have been arrested. In 2024, 12 cases were registered from January to November, and 12 accused were arrested. After that, a total of 19 cases have been registered in various police stations against the Bangladeshi citizens who entered India illegally in December 2024, under the special mission, and a total of 43 Bangladeshi citizens residing illegally have been arrested,' the release said.

Earlier in December 2024, Somaiya praised Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis after 17 illegal immigrants from Bangladesh were arrested in Maharashtra, and said that in the coming days, the whole racket will be busted.

'I welcome this decision of CM Devendra Fadnavis. He has instructed the whole Maharashtra Police ATS and district administrations to take strict action against the Rohingya Muslims from Bangladesh who have settled here illegally...I feel that this whole racket will be busted in the coming days,' Somaiya said.

Recently, CM Fadnavis stated that the state has started taking action against illegal Bangladeshi citizens living in Mumbai and Maharashtra, and they will soon be deported. (ANI)