Two Arrested in Chhattisgarh for Issuing Fake Forest Rights Certificates

Two men in Chhattisgarh's Kabirdham district have been arrested for allegedly creating and distributing fake forest rights certificates to 19 villagers. The accused, identified as Mannulal Khushre and Mukesh Yadav, collected Rs 3.34 lakh from the villagers. The forest department found the certificates to be forged.

Two men have been arrested in Chhattisgarh's Kabirdham district for allegedly issuing fake forest rights certificates to 19 villagers, officials announced on Thursday. The accused collected Rs 3.34 lakh from the unsuspecting villagers.

The fraudulent documents carried forged signatures and seals of district authorities. The men, identified as Mannulal Khushre (34) and Mukesh Yadav (32), were arrested on Wednesday. An FIR has been filed against two other suspects, Devilal Kushre and Ramkumar Yadav.

The scam was uncovered when forest department officials, following complaints, examined the land rights certificates. The documents were found to be forgeries. Efforts to apprehend the remaining suspects are underway.

(With inputs from agencies.)