Fashion Society forgery case: ‘Arrested man a habitual offender’

SHILLONG: Bringing a new twist to the forgery case, the Shillong Fashion Society has filed an FIR against main accused Manas Joshi claiming that he was responsible for the forgery that created undue problems for members of the Society while running a fashion show that was held on October 5-9, while also terming him a serial offender.
Designer Arif Mukhim, while speaking to media persons on Monday, said, “We were unaware of his actions. We came to know recently that he had even forged the signature of the DC in Guwahati.”
It may be reminded that East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner, P.S. Dkhar, had filed a complaint against the organizers (Shillong Fashion Society) for allegedly forging his signature to obtain permission to hold the fashion show.
Shillong Police had, on Saturday, arrested the ‘main man’ Manas Joshi, who is believed to have forged the DC’s signature and is also allegedly responsible for cheating a number of people from different quarters.
The arrested person is a resident of Dispur, Guwahati and runs M Star Company in Guwahati. Joshi was arrested from MES Junction at Rhino Point, Shillong, on Monday evening after police got a tip off that he was moving    towards Guwahati.
Police said Joshi had applied for permission to hold the fashion show in Shillong on October 12. Accordingly, a reply was forwarded to him from the DC’s office whereby list of conditions were mentioned in the letter.
“Joshi used the DC’s signature and the letter number and forged a fake permission letter to organise the event,” police said.