Cyberabad Police have arrested three men for allegedly operating a network involved in producing and selling forged birth and death certificates in Hyderabad. The operation, conducted by the Special Operations Team (SOT) and Cybercrime Police, resulted in the seizure of 71 suspected fake certificates, along with a computer and printer.
Investigators suspect that the accused worked together to manufacture documents resembling official government certificates and sell them to customers without following the authorised registration process.
Who Are the Three Arrested?
Police identified the arrested individuals as:
Md Yahiya, 33: A gift and novelties shop operator from Rahmath Nagar in Yousufguda.
Venkatesh, 35: An employee at a Mee Seva centre from Yousufguda.
Md Saleem, 40: A delivery executive from Qutbullapur.
According to the investigation, the three allegedly performed different roles in the operation, including document production, arranging printing materials and bringing customers.
Their alleged involvement is still under investigation, and the allegations have not been established through a court finding.
How Did Police Uncover the Alleged Racket?
The case came to light after police received specific information about the suspected production and sale of fraudulent certificates.
The SOT team from RC Puram, working alongside Cyberabad Cybercrime Police, reportedly arrested Yahiya in Yousufguda. During the operation, officers recovered 71 suspected forged birth and death certificates, a computer and a printer.
Further questioning reportedly led investigators to Venkatesh and Saleem, who were subsequently arrested over their alleged roles.
The seized materials are expected to form part of the investigation into how the documents were prepared and distributed.
Website Allegedly Used to Generate Fake Certificates
According to investigators, Yahiya had learned about a website through Telegram that could generate documents resembling official birth and death certificates.
The website reportedly required users to register and enter personal information, along with uploading photographs, before producing printable documents.
A cybersecurity official cited in the report said the system could generate a document resembling a Mee Seva certificate in approximately 10 seconds.
Police suspect that these documents were created outside the authorised government registration process. The investigation is examining the technology involved and how the resulting certificates were presented to customers.
The case also highlights the importance of verifying government-issued records through authorised channels rather than relying on documents obtained from unofficial websites or intermediaries.
Alleged Pricing: Certificates Sold for ₹2,500–₹3,500
Investigators have described a significant difference between the reported website charges and the amounts allegedly collected from customers.
According to police:
Reported charge | Amount |
|---|---|
Website registration | ₹150 |
Generation of each certificate | ₹25 |
Alleged customer price | ₹2,500–₹3,500 |
Police suspect that Yahiya had been selling fraudulent certificates since 2025. The alleged pricing arrangement is part of the investigation into how the operation generated revenue.
The figures are based on the police account reported by The420 and have not been independently verified.
Alleged Roles of the Two Associates
Investigators believe the accused had separate responsibilities within the suspected network.
Venkatesh allegedly supplied hologram-embedded paper available to Mee Seva centre operators. Police suspect that this material was used to make the printed certificates appear more like official documents.
Saleem allegedly helped arrange customers and received a commission of ₹500 for each client he brought to the operation.
These alleged roles are being examined as authorities seek to establish how the documents were produced, supplied and sold.
Further Investigation Underway
The three arrested men were handed over to Cyberabad Cybercrime Police along with the seized documents and equipment for further investigation.
Authorities are examining the suspected document-forgery operation, the involvement of the accused and the possible extent of certificate distribution. The supplied report does not specify how many customers may have obtained the documents or whether additional arrests are expected.
The case underlines the risks associated with fraudulent identity and civil-registration documents. Birth and death certificates can be important records in administrative, legal and financial processes, making verification through authorised government systems essential.
For organisations and individuals dealing with questionable financial or documentary records, Shunyatax's financial investigation services represent a relevant area of professional support for examining financial irregularities and compliance concerns.
As the investigation progresses, the authorities will need to establish the full scope of the alleged operation and determine the legal responsibility of each person involved.