Man forges letter using Khurshid's name for Mecca visit

A man allegedly forged a letter in the name of External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and presented it before the consul general of Saudi Arabia to procure a visa to visit Mecca and Medina, police said on Tuesday.

The incident came to light after the letter dated November 7, 2012, addressed to the consul general based in Mumbai, was forwarded to the ministry of external affairs by the Saudi Arabian ambassador.

The economic offences wing has registered a case under sections 420 (cheating), 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating) and 471 (using a forged document as genuine) of the Indian Penal Code, a senior police official said.

In the forged letter, the official said, the consul general has been allegedly requested to facilitate visa for one Abdul Sattar and his family to visit Mecca and Madina.

Malay K Singh, joint secretary in the ministry, said in the complaint that the letter was forged as well as the minister's signature.

"The minister was on tour abroad on November 7, 2012. The signature itself is incorrect. It is usually not the practice for the inister to address a letter to the consul generals based in India," the complaint said.

Singh said Khurshid has instructed that a first information report will be lodged and the matter investigated.

The police said a probe is on in the case.