The Allahabad High Court has ordered a forensic investigation into alleged identity fraud and forged signatures linked to a PIL challenging a college election. The probe aims to verify the true identity of a lawyer accused of being a fictitious person.
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UTTAR PRADESH: The Allahabad High Court has ordered a forensic investigation to determine the true identity of a lawyer and the authenticity of multiple disputed signatures. The case involves a challenge to the 2023 election of the management committee of Fateh Memorial Inter College in Tamkuhi, Kushinagar.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and Justice Kshitij Shailendra passed the order after allegations surfaced that one of the lawyers involved, Ashraf Ali, may not actually exist.
The Case Background
The PIL was filed by Sangeeta Gupta, who questioned the validity of the management committee election held in 2023. She later applied to withdraw the petition.
However, the withdrawal application sparked controversy when the college management accused the petitioner of forging the signature of opposing counsel Parijat Srivastava to obtain acknowledgment of the withdrawal request.
The management further alleged that petitioner Sangeeta Gupta, her counsel Amit Pratap Singh, and another lawyer, Ashraf Ali, were colluding to file repeated sham and frivolous petitions, thereby abusing the legal process.
Allegation
The most explosive claim in the case is that the lawyer Ashraf Ali is allegedly a fictitious identity created by advocate Amit Pratap Singh.
According to the respondent’s application:
- Both Amit Pratap Singh and Ashraf Ali share the same mobile number.
- Both use the same address.
- Court records show Ashraf Ali appeared via video conferencing in previous hearings.
- But later, a different individual appeared in court claiming to be Ashraf Ali.
- Multiple signatures attributed to Ashraf Ali—including those on the petition, withdrawal application, court order sheet, and courier receipt—did not match.
This inconsistency led the bench to question the authenticity of the individual acting as Ashraf Ali.
Court’s Observation
In its order dated August 20, the High Court directed the person presenting himself as Ashraf Ali to sign before the Bench Secretary. Upon comparison, the court found:
- The signatures made before the Bench Secretary were clearly inconsistent with signatures on earlier documents.
- These discrepancies raised “serious issues” of identity fraud, forgery, and abuse of judicial processes.
To resolve the dispute, the division bench ordered a scientific investigation by the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), Lucknow.
The court directed that the following original documents be sent for forensic analysis:
- The original PIL petition
- The withdrawal application
- Court order sheets
- The Vakalatnama of opposing counsel
The FSL must submit its report in a sealed envelope within one month.
The matter will now be heard again on January 6, 2026.