Fake documents prepared in name of Fadnavis, Shinde to apply for housing scheme: Danve

Mumbai, Jul 7 (PTI) Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve on Tuesday alleged large-scale irregularities in the Ramai Awas Yojana implemented in the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar city, stating that fraudsters even submitted applications in the name of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and deputy CM Eknath Shinde by creating fake documents. Under the Ramai Awas scheme, the government provides financial assistance for housing to members of the Scheduled Caste community. Raising the issue in the legislative council, Danve also alleged that a BJP corporator's son was in the list of beneficiaries even when her husband has 33 bank accounts (showing that it was a well-off family and hence ineligible). A fake ration card, tax receipts and a caste certificate of the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation were made in the name of "Devendra Gangadharrao Fadnavis", a resident of Rahul Nagar, to apply for the sceheme, Danve said, adding that Rahul Nagar falls in the constituency of Shiv Sena minister Sanjay Shirsat. Tax dues of Rs 185 were also pending against Fadnavis's name as per these bogus documents, the Sena (UBT) leader said. Similarly, fake ration cards were made in the name of Eknath Shinde with names of wife, son and MP Shrikant Shinde, daughter-in-law and grandson. A fake caste certificate was also made in Shinde's name, Danve alleged. Civic officials and a project management consultant were involved in this scam, he said. Social Justice Minister Shirsat, who is also the guardian minister of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, said the issue was seious, but not a single rupee has been disbursed under the scheme. As many as 8,442 applications were received in 2025, but only 2,913 applicants remained present for physical verification, the minister said. When corporation officials randomly checked the applications, they were found to be from different states, the minister said. Finally, of the 330 applications, only 221 beneficiaries were held eligible for the scheme, he said. PTI PR KRK