Mumbai: In a shocking breach of high-security protocol, the Vidhan Bhavan was infiltrated during the crucial budget session through a well-orchestrated fake entry pass racket, exposing glaring loopholes and alleged insider collusion within the system.
Mumbai’s Marine Drive Police have arrested five individuals, including government staffers, for their alleged role in fabricating and circulating counterfeit passes that allowed unauthorized access to one of Maharashtra’s most sensitive administrative complexes.
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Mar 25,2026 - Time 11.05Hrs
The scam surfaced after Industries Minister Uday Samant flagged serious concerns over forged documents being used to gain entry into the Vidhan Bhavan premises. Preliminary investigations have revealed that the accused allegedly forged requisition letters in the name of the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) to generate nearly 30 fake entry passes.
What has alarmed authorities further is the alleged involvement of insiders. Clerks and peons working within government offices reportedly colluded with a private individual to exploit systemic vulnerabilities, turning a secure access system into a profit-driven racket.
The arrested accused have been identified as Dattatraya Keshav Gunjal (53), Ganpat Bhau Jawale (50), Nagesh Shivaji Patil (42), Manoj Ananda Morbale (40) and Swapnil Ramesh Tayde (40). Meanwhile, two Mantralaya employees, Mahesh Dumpalwar and Lavesh Shankar Nakate, are currently on the run.
Investigators revealed that the fake passes were sold for Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000, clearly pointing to a monetary motive. In a brazen act, Gunjal allegedly issued himself a pass posing as an “advisor to the Chief Minister’s Office,” complete with his photograph and a forged Mantralaya stamp, raising serious concerns over the ease with which official credentials were manipulated.
Police officials suspect that such a grave lapse could not have occurred without deeper internal complicity. A constable attached to the Local Arms unit is also under the scanner, indicating that the network may be wider than initially believed.
All five accused were arrested on March 25, and their mobile phones have been seized for forensic examination. Authorities are now identifying individuals who may have used these fake passes to gain unauthorized entry into the Vidhan Bhavan during the session.
Special teams have been deployed to nab the absconding accused and unravel the full extent of the racket. The incident has triggered serious alarm bells over the integrity of security mechanisms at the Vidhan Bhavan, especially during high-stakes legislative proceedings, where even minor lapses can have far-reaching consequences.
