Nagpur Police Crack Down on Caste Certificate Forgery Racket Involving College Professors
In a significant development exposing deep-rooted corruption in educational admissions, the rural police in Nagpur have registered a formal case against eleven individuals, including three professors from Govindrao Wanjari College of Engineering and Technology, Salai Godhani. The allegations center on the forgery of caste certificates to fraudulently secure admissions through the state's Common Entrance Test (CET) Cell.
Police Action and Key Accused
The case was officially filed at the Pachgaon Police Station on March 28, following a detailed report submitted by a police inspector from the Police Vigilance Team, specifically from the caste verification department. The accused professors have been identified as Amol Ghode (34), Mohan Karambhe (45), and Shubham Khorgade (41), all residents of Nagpur. In response to the serious allegations, the college administration has already removed these professors from their positions.
Other individuals implicated in the scam include Jitendra Devgade (45) and Devendra Moundekar (52), who are parents of students involved. The student accused is Nisha Gudhe (18), along with Nihal Nipane (21), Nandu Dudhpachare (35), and Ganesh Shende (28), who are alleged to have actively participated in forging the certificates. Additionally, Rahul Yadav, also known as Rahul Anand (45), and his associate Vivek Singh (40) are named in the case. Tragically, Nandu Dudhpachare passed away a few days prior to the filing of the case.
Details of the Scam and Investigation
According to police statements, the group conspired to prepare fake caste certificates and submit them to the CET Cell in Pune. This elaborate scheme aimed to exploit reservation quotas for personal gain, undermining the integrity of the admission process. The scam first came to light following multiple complaints and specific orders issued by authorities in December 2025 and March 2026, prompting a thorough investigation.
Police sources have revealed that Rahul Yadav allegedly collected money as part of this fraudulent operation, indicating a financial motive behind the forgery. Investigations are currently ongoing to uncover the full extent of this racket, including potential links to other educational institutions and individuals.
College Response and Broader Implications
MLC Abhijit Wanjarri, whose family manages the college, confirmed that the administration acted swiftly against the erring professors upon learning of the allegations. In a statement, Wanjarri emphasized, "This type of caste verification scam has occurred in many other educational institutions," highlighting a widespread issue. He stressed the urgent need for stricter verification processes to prevent such frauds in the future.
This case sheds light on systemic vulnerabilities in the caste verification system within India's educational sector. It raises critical questions about the effectiveness of current oversight mechanisms and the potential for similar scams elsewhere. Authorities are now focusing on strengthening protocols to ensure that admission processes remain fair and transparent, protecting the rights of genuine candidates.
