Man in debt secures death certificate from Navalgund municipal council, probe ordered

DHARWAD: A man who was in debt managed to procure his own death certificate by hoodwinking the officials at Navalgund in the district. However, after coming to know of it, the town municipal council has taken back the certificate and the district administration has launched an inquiry.

Navangund town municipal council issued the death certificate.

Imamhusen Maktumsab Mullanavar, a resident of Ramling Oni in Navalgund, had borrowed heavily from banks and finance companies. Unable to repay them, he hatched a plan to get his own death certificate to get the lenders off his back.

The application was processed in three days.

Accordingly, Imamhusen’s younger brother Moulasab filed an application with the Navalgund town municipal council on August 27 claiming that his brother had died on August 21. Within three days, the death certificate was also issued without proper verification and with this, they got money from relatives and paid up the lenders.

Dharwad DC Divyaprabhu said an inquiry has been initiated.

However, it somehow came to light that Imamhusen had faked his death following which the municipal officials withdrew the certificate and have filed a report to the authorities on the goof-up. District Deputy Commissioner Divyaprabhu said, “We do not know exactly why he did such a thing, but the preliminary report says he was deep in debts. We have appointed an official to conduct an inquiry and we will take action against those responsible”.

Navalgund MLA Konaraddy said he has advised municipal council members to verify documents before signing them.

Navalgund MLA Konaraddy said the death certificate was issued by oversight and that the official concerned, who is pregnant, had signed on the certificate without visiting the house. “I have instructed officials to ensure that there should be no recurrance of such instances. He had some loans and hence resorted to the ploy. I have also told the municipal council members to verify the documents and then only affix their signatures on such documents”.