2 days ago
‘Fake' certicate for job: Surat court rejects anticipatory bail application of dismissed cop
An anticipatory bail application of a dismissed police officer, who had allegedly obtained a fake caste certificate to land a job, was on Wednesday rejected by the Surat District Court. The officer served as the Assistant Commissioner of Police in the Surat city police before his services were terminated.
B M Chaudhary was dismissed from service as per an order by the state home department, dated May 20. A week later, on May 25, he was booked under Section 12(1)(A), 12(1)(B) of the Gujarat Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes (Regulation of Issuance and Verification of Caste Certificate) Act, 2018.
Chaudhary then filed an anticipatory bail application with Surat District Court of 14th Additional Session Judge B M Govani a few days ago.
The order passed by the court on Wednesday stated: 'Investigating Officer is hereby directed to strictly comply with the provisions of Section 35(2) of BNSS (the arrest of a person without a warrant when a complaint, credible information, or reasonable suspicion exists that they are involved in a non-cognizable offense) and the ratio laid down by Supreme Court in the case of Arneshkumar Vs. State of Bihar in their true letter and spirit.'
As per the details of the case, Chaduhary's late father Motiram Chaudhary had allegedly obtained a fake ST certificate, issued to him on July 19, 1990. Chaudhary then allegedly landed a job using the certificate. He was recruited as a sub-inspector in 1990, and later was promoted to the posts of a police inspector and then an assistant commissioner of police. Chaudhary had been posted as the ACP, K division, Surat city police, since 2022.
The case was filed against Chaudhary based on a letter by Praveen Parghi, president of Adijati Vikas Trust, Godhra, on October 7 last year. Parghi claimed that Chaudhary had used a fake ST certificate to get his job and promotions. The State Vigilance Department ordered the Gujarat Police's vigilance cell to launch a probe.
According to the FIR, the commission had written to Chaudhary '15 times' in 2024 seeking documents, but he delayed the process, seeking more time. The State Vigilance Department subsequently ordered registration of an offence against him, it stated.
Additional Public Prosecutor Dighant Tevar said, 'The accused police officer had obtained a tribal certificate to get a job in the police department. The investigation agency had reminded him 15 times to appear for statements, but he failed to turn up.' Defence lawyer M A Patel did not respond to calls till the press time.
