Exclusive: BJP Mumbai Protocol Office Linked to Forged Job Scam, 13 Booked Under IPC
A ₹37-lakh forged job scam has put BJP Mumbai’s protocol office under serious scrutiny after police booked 13 accused under IPC sections. Investigations reveal victims were lured with fake promises of Railway and SBI jobs using forged documents bearing counterfeit government stamps. Sprouts News exposed how political influence allegedly delayed action until court intervention forced an FIR, raising questions over accountability, misuse of party identity, and systemic failures in curbing job fraud.
BJP Mumbai Protocol Secretary Involved in 420 Scam
Sprouts News Editor-in-Chief Unmesh Gujarathi exposes an alleged ₹37-lakh cheating racket involving Mumbai BJP’s protocol machinery, forged job documents, multiple accused, and political pressure, revealing how court intervention forced police action after victims were defrauded through fake promises and credentials.
A close and trusted associate of Mumbai BJP President and MLA Ashish Shelar, who also serves as the Protocol Secretary of Mumbai BJP, is under investigation for defrauding several citizens of lakhs of rupees. Complaints about this scam have been brought to light by Sprouts’ Special Investigation Team (SIT).
Numerous senior BJP leaders from across India frequently visit Mumbai. To manage these visits, including receiving guests at the airport and maintaining royal protocol, Ashish Shelar appointed a protocol department on November 30, 2024. Among the appointments was Santosh Daya Shankar Pandey, who was appointed as the Mumbai Division Head. Pandey has been scamming people under the BJP’s name for a long time, and many complaints have been raised, but BJP’s senior leaders have always supported him.
According to information obtained by Sprouts, Akash Rampal Gagat, a resident of Vikhroli, was also a victim of Pandey’s fraud. Gagat’s childhood friend, Vivek Virendra Singh, introduced him to Pandey, claiming, “Santosh Pandey is a big businessman, and if you invest money with him, you will make excellent profits.” However, Singh mentioned that Pandey had issues with the income tax department and that the money had to be transferred to his account. Trusting his friend, Gagat transferred ₹3,62,700 to Vivek Singh’s account. Afterward, Pandey gave Gagat some money as a “profit,” assuring him that it was part of the business deal.
Encouraged by this small profit, Gagat grew more trusting of Pandey. In December 2021, Vivek Singh informed Gagat that Pandey had close ties with BJP leaders and government officials in Delhi and could help him land a job with the Railways or State Bank of India (SBI) as a ticket collector or bank manager. For this, a sum of ₹37 lakh in cash was requested.
Gagat, however, refused to pay this amount in cash. Singh then provided him with the names and bank details of his friends and relatives. As a result, Gagat transferred ₹36,21,600 across several bank accounts belonging to people like Vivek Virendra Singh, Shailesh Singh, Vishnu Virendra Singh, Mangesh Virendra Singh – MS Traders, Anil Kumar Chavhan, Dhananjay S. Baranwal, Sumit Shinde, Ajit Chaursiya, Ashwini, Aman Chaursiya, Abhishek Singh, Manoj Singh, and others. All are 13 accused in the case, along with Santosh Pandey.
In December 2022, when Gagat inquired about the job, Singh handed him fake documents with Gagat’s photo and job details. These documents bore forged stamps of “Bhartiya Rail, Indian Railway New Delhi.” When Gagat asked Singh about the original documents, Singh claimed they were with Pandey. Singh then promised to pay Gagat a salary until the job was secured. Subsequently, Singh transferred ₹4,01,500 from Mangesh Singh’s and Vishnu Singh’s accounts.
After some months, when Gagat repeatedly asked about the job, Singh and Pandey stopped answering their phones. Doubting the authenticity of the documents, Gagat checked them, confirming they were forged. He then approached the police.
Initially, the Vikhroli police hesitated to file a case. However, Gagat approached the Vikhroli court, which led to an investigation. Based on the court’s order, an FIR was filed against Santosh Pandey and the other accused, all of whom are residents of Worli, Mumbai.
The police have charged the 13 accused under Sections 420 (cheating), 465 (forgery), 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating), 471 (using forged documents as genuine), and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Police Inspector Sandeep Chandrakant Patil is leading the investigation. When contacted by Sprouts, Patil confirmed that “the police investigation is ongoing.”
Sources suggest that BJP’s Ashish Shelar is putting significant pressure on the police, which is hampering the investigation. If not for the court’s intervention, this case might have been handled like many others, buried under political influence.
Also Read: ₹2000 Cr Poddar Housing Trust Land Scam Rocks Mumbai.
Demand for Pandey’s Expulsion:
Santosh Pandey, the accused, is misusing his position within the BJP. He has scammed numerous people before, but due to alleged pressure from MLA Ashish Shelar, victims have been reluctant to file complaints.
Gagat’s decision to take legal action led to the filing of charges, but a thorough investigation into the numerous other scams by this group is necessary.
Pandey’s actions are tarnishing the reputation of the BJP, and his immediate dismissal has been demanded by victims, BJP activists, and even Sprouts’ representatives to the party leadership in Delhi. This Vikhroli case is just the tip of the iceberg, and many such cases have been suppressed in the past.
