Nagpur Police Crack Down on Caste Certificate Forgery Racket
In a significant development, the Nagpur rural police have made three additional arrests on Thursday, targeting individuals allegedly involved in a widespread scheme to forge documents. This illicit operation enabled ineligible candidates to fraudulently secure admissions to professional courses under reserved categories across Maharashtra.
Details of the Arrests and Investigation
Those apprehended include two assistant professors from Govindrao Wanjari College of Engineering and Technology in Salai Godhani, identified as Shubham Khorgade and Amol Gode, along with Rakesh Sahare, who is accused of preparing the forged certificates. These arrests bring the total number of individuals detained in this case to five, following earlier apprehensions made earlier in the week.
The investigation was initiated after the Scheduled Tribe Certificate Verification Committee raised alarms over suspicious certificates submitted through the state's Common Entrance Test (CET) Cell. A thorough inquiry launched in 2024 uncovered that ineligible candidates had obtained fake caste validity certificates, thereby depriving genuine tribal students of their rightful admission opportunities.
Uncovering a Well-Organized Racket
Police officials have described the operation as a well-organized racket that involved college staff and middlemen collaborating to create forged documents in exchange for substantial fees. This scheme not only exploited aspiring students and their families but also undermined the integrity of the educational system in Maharashtra.
On March 28, 2026, the Pachgaon police station registered a formal case against 11 accused individuals. The first arrest in this case was a female student from Wanjari College, who was identified by the vigilance team. Her interrogation led to the subsequent arrests of Mukesh Choubey and Jagannath Sherkure on Wednesday, followed by Rakesh Sahare.
Investigators revealed that Sherkure allegedly fabricated a fake certificate for his cousin brother with assistance from Choubey, who in turn coordinated with Sahare. Sources indicate that some students may have been unaware that the certificates they obtained were fraudulent, highlighting the deceptive nature of this racket.
Ongoing Efforts and Broader Implications
The operation is being supervised by key police officials, including Superintendent of Police Harssh A Poddar, Additional SP Anil Mhaske, and SDPO Vrishti Jain. Authorities are actively pursuing the remaining accused, which include faculty members and agents involved in the scheme.
Furthermore, police are examining potential links to similar irregularities in colleges across Maharashtra, with particular attention to institutions in Pune. This crackdown aims to restore fairness in the admission process and ensure that reserved category seats are allocated to deserving candidates as intended by government policies.
