📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Indian Air Force
Crime
Madhya Pradesh Fake Passport Probe: Clean Chit to Real Chauhdhary Sparks New Questions
✍️ Amar Ujala · Bhopal
🗓 12 Sep 2026, 12:17 PM
👁 34
A 2025 police recommendation to withdraw five passport applications has been revisited after Real Chauhdhary received a clean chit, while the STF’s latest probe has uncovered around 69 suspect passports.
In 2025, the Madhya Pradesh police launched a crackdown on a network allegedly issuing fraudulent passports. As part of that operation, officials recommended the withdrawal of five passport applications linked to the scheme, a move that was formally recorded at the time.
Despite the earlier recommendation, former police officer Real Chauhdhary was later issued a clean chit, clearing him of any involvement. The unexpected clearance has drawn criticism from anti‑corruption watchdogs, who argue that the decision undermines the credibility of the 2025 action.
A fresh Special Task Force (STF) investigation, initiated this year, has identified roughly 69 passports that appear to be part of the same counterfeit operation. The STF’s findings suggest a broader distribution network than previously disclosed.
State authorities have said they will review the clean‑chit decision in light of the new evidence and have promised a transparent inquiry. Meanwhile, legal experts warn that any perceived leniency could fuel public distrust in law‑enforcement agencies.
The case remains under active scrutiny, with the STF expected to submit a detailed report to the state government within the next few weeks.
Despite the earlier recommendation, former police officer Real Chauhdhary was later issued a clean chit, clearing him of any involvement. The unexpected clearance has drawn criticism from anti‑corruption watchdogs, who argue that the decision undermines the credibility of the 2025 action.
A fresh Special Task Force (STF) investigation, initiated this year, has identified roughly 69 passports that appear to be part of the same counterfeit operation. The STF’s findings suggest a broader distribution network than previously disclosed.
State authorities have said they will review the clean‑chit decision in light of the new evidence and have promised a transparent inquiry. Meanwhile, legal experts warn that any perceived leniency could fuel public distrust in law‑enforcement agencies.
The case remains under active scrutiny, with the STF expected to submit a detailed report to the state government within the next few weeks.