Bhubaneswar: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has launched an extensive investigation into alleged mark sheet forgery in Odisha postal recruitment following a complaint from the Director of Postal Services, Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
The investigating agency has already conducted searches at over 67 locations across various districts of Odisha, including Kalahandi, Nuapada, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Kandhamal, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, and Bhadrak. This massive operation involves more than 204 officials, including 122 officers from CBI and 82 personnel from other departments, highlighting the scale and seriousness of the investigation.
As per an official release of the investigating agency, the search teams are striving to uncover the interstate organised gang responsible for providing these fake certificates.
CBI registered a regular case on May 9, 2023, under Sections 120-B, 420, 468, and 471 read with 511 of the IPC, and Section 7(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018) on the complaint by the Postal Department against 63 candidates of the Gramin Dak Sevak Exam, 2023, (Odisha Circle) and others, including unknown officials of the Postal Department and unknown private persons.
The complaint concerns the recruitment process for 1,382 posts of Gramin Dak Sevak (GDS), for which online applications were invited on January 27, 2023. The minimum qualification required was a Class 10 pass certificate from any recognised board, with proficiency in the local language being mandatory. According to the procedure, applicants were required to upload their certificates and mark sheets to a centralised server. Selection was automated based on the marks secured in the Class 10 examination. Selected candidates were informed via SMS and email and were asked to report to the verifying authority within 15 days for document verification before their appointment.
During the verification process, the Odisha Postal Circle allegedly discovered that 63 candidates from various postal divisions, including Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Kalahandi, and Barhampur, had submitted forged or fake Class 10 pass certificates. These certificates were allegedly issued by the Board of High School and Intermediate Education, Allahabad; West Bengal Board, Kolkata; Jharkhand Academic Council, Ranchi; among others. The complaint suggests the alleged involvement of an interstate racket in creating and supplying these forged certificates in collusion with the candidates.
The investigation is still underway.
