Delhi Court Convicts Man for Forging Official Letter from Yogi Adityanath to PM Modi
A Delhi court has delivered a significant verdict, convicting a man for forging an official letter that was purportedly issued by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The fraudulent document was crafted with the intent of securing a BJP ticket for the accused in the 2019 Uttar Pradesh Assembly by-elections.
Court Judgment and Charges
In a detailed judgment delivered on March 30, the court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Jyoti Maheshwari at Rouse Avenue Court held the accused, Shivaji Yadav, guilty under Sections 465 and 471 of the Indian Penal Code. These sections pertain to the offences of forgery and using a forged document as genuine, respectively. The prosecution successfully established that Yadav was responsible for creating and dispatching the fabricated letter.
Details of the Forged Letter
The case centered on a letter dated June 10, 2019, which was allegedly written by the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister to the Prime Minister. This letter recommended that Shivaji Yadav be given a BJP ticket from the Lucknow Cantt assembly constituency. Investigations later revealed that the document was entirely forged and had been sent to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
Key findings from the investigation include:
- The court noted that while a genuine letter with the same dispatch number had been issued from the Chief Minister’s Office to the Ministry of External Affairs, the document sent to the PMO was fabricated to appear official.
- Forensic analysis and witness testimonies confirmed that the forged letter did not originate from the Chief Minister’s Office and lacked authentic signatures of Yogi Adityanath.
- Portions of the forged letter, including the date, dispatch number, and envelope details, were found to be in the handwriting of the accused.
- The mobile numbers mentioned in the forged letter and envelope were traced back to Shivaji Yadav.
- Location data placed him in Badlapur, Jaunpur, at the time the letter was dispatched via speed post to the PMO.
Defense Arguments and Court's Rejection
The accused denied all charges, claiming false implication and arguing that the Chief Minister was not examined as a witness. However, the court firmly rejected these claims. It observed that the offence of forgery does not require proof of signature alone; rather, the fabrication of any part of a document with the intent to deceive is sufficient to establish guilt.
The court emphasized that the prosecution had established a complete chain of circumstances, including the creation of the forged document, its dispatch by the accused, and its receipt at the PMO. This left no reasonable doubt about Yadav's involvement and guilt.
Court's Conclusion and Implications
The court concluded that Shivaji Yadav had knowingly used the forged letter as genuine to further his political ambition of securing a party ticket. It highlighted that such misuse of the names of constitutional authorities in forged documents undermines public trust and cannot be treated lightly. Holding the evidence as sufficient, the court convicted Yadav under the relevant IPC sections.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the legal consequences of forging official documents, especially those involving high-profile political figures. The conviction underscores the judiciary's commitment to upholding integrity and preventing fraud in the political arena.
