Valsad: The City Cyber Crime Police have busted an alleged fraud in which fake letterheads and email IDs were created in the name of Valsad Lok Sabha MP Dhaval Patel to mislead government and financial institutions.

The accused, Pratik Pradutkumar De (30), a native of West Bengal, allegedly created a fake email ID in the MP’s name and sent a forged recommendation letter to State Bank of India (SBI) Chairman C.S. Shetty in an attempt to secure undue benefits. He was arrested from the Isanpur area of Ahmedabad.

According to the police, the accused prepared forged electronic records using the design, designation, and fake signature appearing on MP Dhaval Patel’s official letterhead. The recommendation letter was then sent from the fake email ID, with the intention of misleading the bank.

The fraud came to light after MP Dhaval Patel’s Personal Assistant, Ravikumar Sureshbhai Patel, filed a complaint with the Valsad Cyber Crime Police Station.

Acting on the complaint, the Cyber Crime team launched an investigation and, by analysing digital footprints, social media profiles, and other technical evidence, investigators traced the fake email account to the Isanpur area of Ahmedabad. Police subsequently raided a residence in Muraleedhar Society and arrested the accused.

During the search, police seized a Samsung mobile phone and an HP laptop. The mobile phone reportedly contained seven fake email IDs that were logged in. Examination of the laptop allegedly revealed forged letterheads and recommendation letter templates prepared in the names of MP Dhaval Patel, MP Purushottam Rupala, senior West Bengal Police officers Sandeep Nandi and Rajib Gon.

Preliminary investigation suggests the accused used forged recommendation letters to obtain confirmations under the Railways’ VIP and special quotas. Police also suspect he sent similar fake recommendation letters to various government offices to further his personal interests.

Investigators are now examining whether others were involved in the operation and whether any additional government departments or organisations were targeted.

A case has been registered against the accused under Sections 318(4), 319(2), 336(2), 336(3), 336(4), and 340(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Sections 66(C) and 66(D) of the Information Technology Act. Police said the accused is being intensively questioned and further investigation is underway. DeshGujarat