Madhya Pradesh High Court: Orders Probe into Forged Vakalatnama

• The Madhya Pradesh High Court at Jabalpur ordered a police-monitored inquiry into a forged Vakalatnama, affidavit, and withdrawal application.
• An advocate, Ajay Kumar Yadav, had filed the documents in Shalini Sharma's name, but both he and local counsel S.P. Mishra denied any involvement.
• The court found several inconsistencies in the documents, including disputed signatures and a suspicious oath commissioner's register.
• The court has ordered a detailed inquiry into the matter and directed the Registrar (Judicial-I) to register an FIR if any criminal activity is found.

The court then summoned the oath commissioner who had attested the affidavit, Ms. Laxmi Devi Singh, and directed the matter to be taken up again later in the day so that the advocate named in the papers could also appear.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court at Jabalpur has been at the center of a controversy surrounding a forged Vakalatnama, an affidavit, and a withdrawal application filed in the name of Shalini Sharma. The court's order to conduct a police-monitored inquiry and possible FIR registration highlights the severity of the issue. An advocate, Ajay Kumar Yadav, had filed the documents, claiming to have obtained a NOC from local counsel S.P. Mishra. However, when questioned by the court, both Yadav and Mishra denied any involvement in the case. The appellant, Shalini Sharma, appeared in person, producing her passport to establish her identity, and disowned the documents entirely.

The Vakalatnama and affidavit at the center of the controversy were filed on behalf of Shalini Sharma by Ajay Kumar Yadav. However, when examined closely, several inconsistencies emerged. The court found that a fresh Vakalatnama had been filed on 05.08.2026, bearing an NOC from S.P. Mishra dated 05.08.2026. An application seeking withdrawal of the appeal was then filed on 11.08.2026, supported by an affidavit purportedly sworn by Shalini Sharma on 09.08.2026. The court's scrutiny revealed that the signature on the affidavit was disputed by Shalini Sharma herself.

In response to the controversy, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has ordered a detailed inquiry into the matter. The Registrar (Judicial-I) has been directed to conduct the inquiry within four weeks and, if any criminal activity is found, to register an FIR. The court has also seized the oath commissioner's register as part of the inquiry record to verify signatures. Furthermore, the court has restored the original counsel on record and rejected the withdrawal application filed by Ajay Kumar Yadav.

Lawyers and compliance officers should be aware of the potential for forged documents in court proceedings, particularly Vakalatnamas, and take steps to verify the authenticity of such documents to avoid any adverse consequences.

Source: Original reporting via The Indian Express