Mumbai, October 23: The Mulund police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against an unknown individual or group for counterfeiting and distributing 225 fake passes for the Prerna Raas Garba 2023 event of BJP MP Manoj Kotak. These fake passes were sold to unsuspecting attendees at remarkably low prices.

According to a report by Mid-Day, the incident came to light when the organisers got suspicious after the crowd at Kalidas Ground on PK Road in Mulund West suddenly swelled. After close inspections of the garba passes, they found it fake. These fake garba passes amounted to a whopping Rs 4 lakh. According to the event management team, an unknown party duplicated the original passes and introduced these counterfeits into circulation. Ajay Trivedi, the president of the Garba event, had contracted Gargote’s event management company to provide various services for the Prerna Raas Garba 2023 event of BJP MP Manoj Kotak. These services included setting up the stage, sound and lighting systems, security, bouncers, canteen services and gate staff responsible for pass verification. Mumbai Garba Pass Scam: Cops Bust Rs 30 Lakh Fake Navratri Ticket Scam Inspired by TV Show ‘Farzi’.

According to police, the event organisers printed 4,000 season passes and 1,000 daily passes for the Prerna Raas Garba 2023 event of BJP MP Manoj Kotak. The season passes were priced at Rs 1,800, and the daily passes were priced at Rs 300. On October 12, a pass-selling counter was set up outside the venue. However, it was on October 15, when Navratri festivities commenced at Kalidas Natyagruh temple ground on PK Road, that a sudden increase in the crowd was observed. This surge in attendance continued specifically on October 17-18. Mumbai Shocker: Kandivali Man and His Friends Lose Rs 5.17 Lakh After Being Lured Over Cheap Garba Passes of Falguni Pathak's Show Ahead of Navratri Festival.

"The accused have been charged under Indian Penal Code Sections 420, 465, 467, 468, and 471," Senior Inspector Kantilal Kothimbare from Mulund police station said.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 23, 2023 12:26 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).