NAGPUR: The 'whistleblower' in the recruitment and financial scam that rocked the state education department recently, was tossed behind bars in a separate case, though related to fake Shalarth IDs - a web-based teacher identification number.
Key accused, Ulhas Narad, deputy director of education, authorized the process of registering a complaint with Nagpur cyber cell (copy of FIR with TOI) on March 12, following an eight-month internal inquiry on how fake Shalarth IDs were created online, to recruit teachers and draw salaries from govt coffers.
Exactly a month later, Narad was arrested in a separate case related to a fraudulent creation of Shalarth ID for a Bhandara teacher.
A source in the education department said, "Narad had cancelled the Shalarth ID of this Bhandara teacher. Till then, around Rs 5.5 lakh had been paid as salary to him. Then one day we came to know that Narad has been arrested in that same case." When TOI asked the source if Narad was the one who created or approved the Shalarth ID of the Bhandara teacher, he replied "I am not aware of that."
While police probe will reveal the truth, there is no doubt that the last month has seen enough twists and turns in the education scam.
It all started on March 12, when an education department employee (name withheld) walked into Nagpur cyber police station to file a complaint. The employee told cops that Narad had authorized him to file the complaint, on behalf of the education department, regarding fraudulent creation of online Shalarth IDs. The complainant stated that the deputy director (education) office began receiving complaints of forged Shalarth IDs in June 2024.
Following this, a committee was formed under Narad to conduct an internal investigation, and the committee 'upgraded' with senior officials. The inquiry continued for a few months and in January this year, the committee's head, Nagpur divisional board chairman, noted that prima facie it appears that Shalarth IDs have been fraudulently created.
After the committee's final letter in February, Narad contacted the state education commissioner's office in Pune.
Key accused, Ulhas Narad, deputy director of education, authorized the process of registering a complaint with Nagpur cyber cell (copy of FIR with TOI) on March 12, following an eight-month internal inquiry on how fake Shalarth IDs were created online, to recruit teachers and draw salaries from govt coffers.
Exactly a month later, Narad was arrested in a separate case related to a fraudulent creation of Shalarth ID for a Bhandara teacher.
A source in the education department said, "Narad had cancelled the Shalarth ID of this Bhandara teacher. Till then, around Rs 5.5 lakh had been paid as salary to him. Then one day we came to know that Narad has been arrested in that same case." When TOI asked the source if Narad was the one who created or approved the Shalarth ID of the Bhandara teacher, he replied "I am not aware of that."
While police probe will reveal the truth, there is no doubt that the last month has seen enough twists and turns in the education scam.
It all started on March 12, when an education department employee (name withheld) walked into Nagpur cyber police station to file a complaint. The employee told cops that Narad had authorized him to file the complaint, on behalf of the education department, regarding fraudulent creation of online Shalarth IDs. The complainant stated that the deputy director (education) office began receiving complaints of forged Shalarth IDs in June 2024.
Following this, a committee was formed under Narad to conduct an internal investigation, and the committee 'upgraded' with senior officials. The inquiry continued for a few months and in January this year, the committee's head, Nagpur divisional board chairman, noted that prima facie it appears that Shalarth IDs have been fraudulently created.
After the committee's final letter in February, Narad contacted the state education commissioner's office in Pune.
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