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Time of India
24-05-2025
- Time of India
SIT fails to followarrest process, eduofficial gets bail
Nagpur: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the fake Shalarth ID scam suffered a setback on Thursday when the arrest of former deputy director of education Anil Pardhi was termed 'irregular'. Pardhi was granted on the grounds that his kin were not informed as per the constitutional rights guaranteed under Article 22 (1). The stunned cops are now set to press for a revision of the verdict before the sessions court. Sources said that Pardhi's lawyer, advocate Dipenn Jagyasi, argued that the cops did not inform the senior education official's family about the grounds of arrest, as per his constitutional rights. The court granted bail on the issue of violation of constitutional rights, said Jagyasi. While Pardhi's bail was granted upon furnishing surety and personal bond, his release has been delayed by a day as the formalities could not be completed within the working hours of the court. Another accused in the case, Laxman Magam, was remanded in SIT custody till May 26. The SIT is in the process of making more arrests soon. The SIT had sought Pardhi's five-day custody remand to probe his role in preparing 86 fake Shalarth IDs, which were created by Magam against hefty bribes, to recruit and promote teachers on the basis of bogus documents. Magam's interrogation had led to Pardhi's name surfacing in the scam. Pardhi was the second official of the rank of deputy director of education to be arrested after Ulhas Narad, now suspended, who was in custody for around a fortnight before getting bail. Sources said Pardhi and Narad are facing charges of issuing instructions to create fake Shalarth IDs. Around 623 fake Shalarth IDs are now under scrutiny, with substantial loss being suffered by the state exchequer in the form of salaries and other monetary benefits to teachers recruited fraudulently. Narad was instrumental in registering the first case at the cyber police station for theft of office computer log-in IDs and passwords with which the fake Shalarth IDs were created. The offence was registered after an inquiry by higher education department officials. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Brother's Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Time of India
Shalarth ID scam: Another top edu official in SIT net
Nagpur: In a significant breakthrough on Wednesday, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) arrested former deputy director of education Anil Pardhi in the Shalarth ID scam that rocked the education department, said assistant commissioner of police Sunita Meshram. Pardhi will be produced before the court on Thursday. On Tuesday, the SIT had arrested Laxman Magam, an education department clerk, after a month-long manhunt, marking a critical step in unravelling the fraud involving the creation of approximately 1,500 fake Shalarth IDs used for irregular teacher recruitments and promotions in govt aided schools. Magam was nabbed from a friend's residence at Dabha. Magam was produced before a court on Wednesday and remanded in police custody until May 26. The SIT, led by ACP Meshram under zonal DCP Rahul Madane, had requested 10-day custody but was granted six days to probe further. Searches were conducted at Magam's residence at Dabha following his arrest. His interrogation led to Pardhi's arrest on Wednesday. Commissioner of police Ravinder Singal formed the nine-member SIT on May 15. It has been tasked with investigating two cases related to the Shalarth ID scam. Currently, 623 fraudulent Shalarth IDs are under scrutiny, with statements recorded from around 30 school management representatives and headmasters. According to SIT sources, Magam charged Rs20,000 per fake ID, acting on instructions from former deputy director of education Ulhas Narad, who is currently out on bail. Investigations reveal that top officials, including Narad, allegedly extorted Rs10 lakh from aspiring teachers, passing a fraction of the amount to Magam for generating fake IDs using forged documents. This systematic fraud allowed unqualified candidates to secure teaching positions, undermining the integrity of the education system. The SIT is now intensifying its probe, with another key suspect, Nilesh Waghmare, on its radar. Described as a 'big fish' in the scam, Waghmare's potential arrest could further expose the web of corruption. The team also plans to challenge the bail of several top officials, including Narad, arguing that their custody is essential for deeper investigation into the scam's operations. The scandal has sparked outrage, highlighting systemic flaws in the education department's oversight mechanisms. The fake Shalarth IDs not only enabled fraudulent recruitments but also siphoned off public funds meant for legitimate educators. The SIT's ongoing investigation aims to hold all culprits accountable and restore trust in the system. As the probe continues, the education department faces mounting pressure to implement stricter regulations and transparency measures.
