Sahar Shaikh Breaks Silence on Certificate Controversy
AIMIM corporator Sahar Shaikh, along with her father Yunus Shaikh, on Monday strongly denied allegations that her caste certificate is fraudulent, calling the accusations a “deliberate political conspiracy” aimed at damaging her political future.
Speaking at a press conference, the Thane Municipal Corporation corporator said the allegations were baseless and politically motivated. According to the Shaikh family, all records submitted for obtaining the caste certificate were genuine, legally verified, and officially approved by the authorities.
The public rebuttal comes amid growing controversy over the validity of Sahar Shaikh’s caste certificate, an issue that has sparked political debate in local circles.
Family Says All Documents Were Legally Verified
During the press conference, Yunus Shaikh defended the authenticity of the family’s documents and said that their caste certificate was issued after proper verification by the government.
He stated that the family belongs to the Muslim Teli community, which is classified under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category. To support the claim, the family submitted historical documents proving that Yunus Shaikh has been residing in Mumbai since 1958, making the family eligible under the relevant rules.
The family also submitted evidence that a close relative in Uttar Pradesh holds a caste certificate from the same community. According to them, this was verified by the Thane Tehsildar’s office, which contacted the corresponding tehsil office in Uttar Pradesh and received official confirmation regarding the certificate.
Sahar Shaikh said her caste certificate was legally issued by the Thane Tehsildar’s office on April 27, 2011, and remains valid.
Serious Allegations Against Local Officials
The Shaikh family also levelled serious accusations against Tehsildar Umesh Patil, alleging that the inquiry against Sahar was biased and unfair.
According to Yunus Shaikh, despite submitting all relevant records and proof, the Tehsildar prepared an adverse report after a single hearing without properly examining the documents.
Questioning the fairness of the process, he said, “The same officer’s signature appears on both the complainant’s documents and ours. How can one be treated as valid and the other declared fake in the same hearing?”
The family alleged that the inquiry was conducted in a hurried and arbitrary manner and that due process was not followed.
Sahar Shaikh Claims Political Rivals Are Targeting Her
Sahar Shaikh alleged that the caste certificate issue is being used as a political weapon by rival leaders to block her progress.
She claimed that both factions of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) are trying to drag her into legal trouble to stop her from functioning as a corporator and to damage her growing influence.
According to her, the controversy is not about legal validity but about political pressure.
She said the attempt is being made “to keep me tied up in legal disputes and finish my political career.”
The AIMIM corporator insisted that the allegations surfaced only because of her increasing public support and active role in local politics.
Complaint Filed, Fresh Hearing Demanded
The Shaikh family has now approached the District Collector, filing a formal complaint against the Tehsildar’s conduct and demanding a fresh hearing into the matter.
They have sought a de novo investigation, arguing that a neutral review is necessary to ensure justice and transparency.
The family said that if there had been any forged documents, it would be a separate matter, but since all records are genuine, they are confident that a fair inquiry will clear Sahar Shaikh of all allegations.
With the matter now moving toward administrative and possible legal review, the controversy is expected to remain in focus as the corporator continues to defend her certificate and accuse political rivals of targeting her.
Why is Sahar Shaikh facing controversy?
Sahar Shaikh is facing allegations that her caste certificate is fake, which she and her family have denied.
What has Sahar Shaikh said about the allegations?
She said the allegations are false and part of a political conspiracy to damage her political career.
What action has the Shaikh family taken?
The family has filed a complaint with the District Collector and demanded a fresh hearing into the matter.
Which community does Sahar Shaikh belong to?
According to her family, they belong to the Muslim Teli community, which falls under the OBC category.
