A Rs 6.41 crore payroll fraud involving the Mumbai Police Department has come to light nearly six years after salaries were allegedly paid to 10 fictitious employees between 2019 and 2020. The scam was uncovered during the migration of employee records from the Sevarth salary portal to a new payroll software system, prompting a detailed review of salary data.

Police have registered a case against five former and serving officials, alleging that they manipulated official records to create ghost employees and facilitate unauthorised salary payments. Two officials have already been suspended as the investigation gathers pace.

Payroll Audit Exposes Ghost Employees

According to a complaint filed by an officer from the Mumbai Police’s North Regional Division, the names of 10 individuals who were not police employees were repeatedly entered into official records, allowing salaries to be credited to their bank accounts.

The fictitious employees named in the First Information Report (FIR) are Ramdas Bhogle, Sudhakar Kadam, Sarju Yadav, Bhagwat Bhosale, Gunaji Khavkar, Mahadev Haldankar, Rajendra Sonar, Uttam Thorat, Suryakant Patil and Pandurang Kadam.

Investigators said the fraudulent payments were made primarily during two periods, from December 2019 to February 2020 and from June to September 2020.

Five Officials Booked, Two Suspended

Police have booked five officials who were serving in the department at the time of the alleged fraud.

Those named in the FIR are former administrative officers Ramkishan Goswami, Nagesh Talvadekar and Vijaya Chavan, Head Clerk Ajay Rathod and Senior Clerk Amol Meshram.

They have been charged under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, on allegations including cheating, forgery, criminal breach of trust and criminal conspiracy.

Investigators alleged that ministerial-level clerks manipulated attendance registers and service records to create fake employees and add outsiders to the payroll.

The Mumbai Police Department has suspended Vijaya Chavan and Amol Meshram after allegations that they created fake Service IDs and Defined Contribution Pension Scheme (DCPS) IDs to facilitate unauthorised salary payments.

According to investigators, the two officials added the 10 fictitious employees to the payroll system and approved their monthly salaries.

Maharashtra Government Assures Action

Responding to the development, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the alleged fraud dates back to 2020 and is not a recent incident.

“The scam is from 2020, not today. Action has been underway, and everyone involved has faced and will continue to face action,” Fadnavis said.

He added that every allegation supported by evidence would be thoroughly investigated and assured that a comprehensive probe would be conducted.

Minister of State for Home Yogesh Kadam said the government was treating the matter seriously and would ensure strict action against those found responsible.

Opposition Demands Accountability

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anand Dubey criticised the alleged fraud, describing it as a reflection of serious administrative lapses within the police department.

He called for a transparent investigation and demanded that accountability be fixed for the alleged creation of ghost employees and the unauthorised disbursal of public funds.

Police are continuing their investigation to determine the full extent of the payroll fraud, identify all those involved and trace the flow of the allegedly misappropriated Rs 6.41 crore.

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