Aizawl, May 9 (IANS) Seventeen prisoners, including convicts and undertrial prisoners lodged in Mizoram’s Lunglei district jail, were allegedly illegally released using forged court documents and fake release orders, police said on Saturday.

Most of the released inmates have since been traced and re-arrested.

According to Mizoram Police, the 17 prisoners — including those convicted or facing trial under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, and theft-related cases — were released from Lunglei District Jail between January 30 and March 18 this year on the basis of forged court documents.

In a detailed statement, the Mizoram Police described the case as a major fraud involving fabricated court orders purportedly issued by judicial authorities to secure the release of inmates.

The case came to light after Lunglei Police Station received a First Information Report on April 27 from R. Lalduhawmi, District and Sessions Judge of Lunglei Judicial District.

According to the First Information Report, during court proceedings held on April 24, 2026, two undertrial prisoners currently lodged in Lunglei District Jail appeared before the court carrying documents purportedly issued by the Court of the District and Sessions Judge, Lunglei Judicial District, on April 13, and by the Gauhati High Court on April 10.

The documents allegedly ordered their release on a discharge bond after payment of a fine of Rs 50,000 and also fixed April 24 as the date for their hearing.

However, the judge immediately noticed discrepancies in the documents, as the same two prisoners had already appeared before her on April 23 and their next hearing had been officially scheduled for May 8, 2026.

Growing suspicious, the judge personally visited Lunglei District Jail to verify the authenticity of the documents and seek clarification from jail authorities, the police statement said.

During the inquiry, it was discovered that the two undertrial prisoners were not isolated cases and that several other inmates had also allegedly secured release from jail using forged court orders and fabricated judicial documents.

Following the discovery, a First Information Report was formally registered at Lunglei Police Station, triggering a large-scale police investigation.

Acting swiftly, Lunglei Police launched an operation to trace the 15 prisoners who were initially identified as having been released using fake documents.

Of them, 11 were re-arrested and sent back to Lunglei District Jail.

One accused remained absconding, while the other had already been apprehended by the Khawzawl district police.

Authorities said 13 individuals were quickly traced during the initial phase of the investigation.

Subsequent investigation revealed that the total number of prisoners released through forged documents was actually 17.

Police said the released inmates included persons convicted or facing trial in serious offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, and theft-related cases.

Investigators have also identified two main accused individuals who allegedly orchestrated the fraudulent operation.

The two accused were arrested on May 1 and remanded to judicial custody on May 7.

According to police investigations, Jeremia Lalthangtura allegedly deceived inmates by claiming he could arrange appeals in their cases and provide legal assistance through a lawyer he knew.

Police claimed that he collected money ranging from Rs 4,000 to Rs 50,000 from inmates in exchange for securing their release.

Investigators estimated that around Rs 1.35 lakh was collected through the operation.

According to the police statement, forged court documents were allegedly prepared on computers at a photocopying and printing shop in Rahsi Veng and on a computer inside the jail office at Lunglei District Jail.

Police have seized the computers and printers allegedly used in preparing the forged documents, and the devices have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory for examination.

Authorities said the investigation into the case is continuing, and further arrests or disclosures may follow.

–IANS

sc/dan