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Court Directs FIR for Forgery in EPF Records

In a significant development, the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) of the South-East Saket Court has directed the Station House Officer (SHO) of Kalkaji Police Station to register a First Information Report (FIR) and investigate allegations of forgery and unauthorized changes in the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) records of a complainant.

The case, A. Periaswamy v. State (CT CASES/908/2023), revolves around allegations that the Bahai Temple Authorities unilaterally altered the complainant’s date of birth in EPF records. This alleged modification, carried out without the complainant’s consent, was purportedly aimed at facilitating his early retirement.

According to the complainant, a poor and uneducated individual, the unauthorized changes came to light through an RTI reply from the Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner. The response revealed that the employer, Bahai Temple Authorities, had submitted updated information in Form 9 to the EPF office, reflecting the altered date of birth. The complainant contends that this change was done without his knowledge or approval.

Despite lodging a complaint with the local police, the complainant alleged that the police refused to register an FIR against the management of the Bahai Temple. Left with no recourse, he filed an application under Section 156(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code before the Saket Court, seeking judicial intervention.

On November 28, 2023, the court acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations and issued its order. The court observed:

“The allegations are grave and serious in nature, especially considering the fact that the complainant is a poor and uneducated person. The police, during the preliminary inquiry, have not been able to ascertain clearly whether the record has been changed by Bahai Temple Authorities or not, as they have themselves admitted that nothing has come on record to suggest that such changes have been made.”

The court’s directive mandates the SHO of Kalkaji Police Station to file an FIR and conduct a thorough investigation into the matter. This case highlights the vulnerability of workers to alleged administrative malpractices and underscores the role of judicial intervention in ensuring accountability.