In a cyber and financial fraud case, police have arrested a 23-year-old man from Navi Mumbai for allegedly using forged digital signatures linked to the Revenue Department to manipulate official processes.
The accused, identified as Abhishek Sanjay Zare from Airoli, has been sent to judicial custody. Investigators claim that official digital credentials were misused to alter government documents and administrative records.
According to police officials, the accused allegedly created and used fake digital signatures associated with a senior revenue authority. Authorities suspect these forged electronic credentials were used to interfere with official records and mislead government systems.
The case was investigated by Nashik Road Police, who carried out a detailed cyber and technical probe after the issue surfaced. Officials said the accused was tracked through social media monitoring, digital surveillance, and technical analysis. Based on leads about his location, a special police team was sent to Navi Mumbai.
Sources involved in the investigation said social media played a key role in identifying the suspect. Police reportedly found photographs of the accused with a local public representative on Facebook, which helped generate further leads.
During questioning, it reportedly emerged that the accused had been in contact regarding certain schemes and administrative matters. Police allegedly used a planned approach by calling him for a meeting, where he was detained upon arrival.
After the arrest, he was produced before a court and initially remanded to police custody for interrogation. Following initial questioning and procedures, he was later sent to central jail.
Investigating agencies are now examining whether the accused acted alone or was part of a larger network. Officials are reviewing his financial transactions, communication records, and digital activity to identify possible links and beneficiaries.
Authorities have also begun a forensic review of his electronic devices, email activity, digital certificates, and online communications. Cyber experts are studying the methods used to allegedly forge or clone digital signatures.
Investigators are trying to determine if any government systems or restricted networks were accessed without authorization. Experts warn that misuse of digital signatures can result in forged approvals, altered records, and financial losses.
The case has raised concerns about the safety of digital authentication systems used by government departments. Cybersecurity experts have highlighted the need for stronger measures such as multi-factor authentication, hardware-based security tokens, encrypted verification layers, and real-time monitoring to prevent misuse.
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