Irregularities found in 742 Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar schools as fake Shalarth ID probe intensifies
Notices have been sent to 742 schools after approval papers linked to politicians and former education officers were found forged, with fake outward numbers.
Irregularities have surfaced in 742 schools in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar during the probe into the fake Shalarth ID scam. Notices have now been sent to these schools. The investigation examined approval papers granted to institutions linked to politicians and former education officers. It found that the approval letters were forged and carried fake outward numbers.
Sangharatna Sarode, the primary education officer of the Zilla Parishad, had issued a letter to all the schools directing them to submit all their documents. A team of the Principal Secretary had been formed to investigate the fake Shalarth ID scam across the state, including Marathwada. The records of all the schools had been examined to assist the SIT.
The team went through all the papers on Sanch Manyata, fake batch (tukdi) approvals and fake school recognitions at the Zilla Parishad. The Principal Secretary's team camped there and kept examining the documents. Papers relating to Sanch Manyata, teacher approvals and fake outward numbers were placed before it. When the team grew suspicious, older records were sought, but they did not match each other.
It is being said that some schools had no students at all. Even so, approval was obtained by showing children from other schools as their own. After approval came through, the teacher recruitment process was completed and funds worth crores of rupees were drawn from the government. It is being said that some senior politicians, along with former education officers, also benefited and cheated the government.
Retired education officers were put forward and the institutions were warned to submit their records within a set time. Some institution heads submitted records, but the investigating officers found that all of them were forged. A scramble then began, which is said to be aimed at getting the investigation file closed. It is said that some institution heads even mortgaged their homes for this.
It is also being said that institution heads, with the help of retired education officers, are running a campaign to reach officials at the Mantralaya and even ministers. Sources say that elections to the graduates' constituency have been announced, so the government is keeping quiet for now on such serious matters.
The letter sent to the chairpersons, secretaries and headmasters of the 742 schools asks them to submit all records along with their signatures. For this reason, it is believed the scam could be exposed. It is said that many irregularities have already come to light and that the education officers of the time are putting all their effort into managing the whole matter.
