Ahmedabad: A major fraud involving forged bank challans in illegal mining cases came to light in Gandhinagar on Tuesday, with Sector 7 police registering an offence against three individuals for allegedly cheating the state govt of over Rs 23.5 lakh.The complaint was filed by Nisarg Bhatt, 32, a resident of Kudasan in Gandhinagar, who is posted as a royalty inspector with the office of the additional director (appeals and flying squad), commissioner of geology and mining, Gujarat.According to the FIR, the case dates back to May 13, 2025, when officials conducted checks against illegal mining, transportation and storage of sand in the Orsang river belt near Chanvada village in Dabhoi, Vadodara. Notices were issued on June 9, 2025, to three persons for violations under the Gujarat Mineral (Prevention of Illegal Mining, Transportation and Storage) Rules, 2017.The accused were directed to pay penalties, after which they submitted challans claiming to have deposited the required amounts in the bank. Based on these submissions, the department released its machinery, vehicles, and stock in June and July last year.However, during routine verification, a letter sent to SBI Gandhinagar revealed major discrepancies. Authorities found that against the claimed payments of Rs 4.7 lakh, Rs 2 lakh and Rs 11.8 lakh, only negligible amounts or no deposits were actually made. In some cases, environmental compensation amounts were also either unpaid or unverifiable.Investigators further found that the accused had allegedly created fake challans and forged bank receipts, misused SBI seals, and even forged the signature of a govt official to make the documents appear genuine.Police said the accused acted in collusion between May 13 and Sept 1, 2025, to fraudulently show payment of penalties and secure the release of seized assets, causing financial loss to the govt.The Sector 7 police of Gandhinagar registered an FIR for cheating and forgery, along with other charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and began an investigation.
