The city police have seized a large number of incriminating documents during searches at the office of RTI activist Shahid Sharif, who has been identified as the alleged mastermind behind a bogus Right to Education Act (RTE) admission scam. Investigation revealed that Sharif was charging Rs 50,000 to Rs 1,50,000 from each parent to help them secure admissions for their wards in schools under the RTE Act. “We have seized a large number of signed cheques from parents, documents related to admissions under the Act, and a letter identifying Sharif as a member of the RTE verification committee issued in 2020,” said a senior police official.

 

The official added that Sharif, posing as a member of the RTE verification committee, was charging lakhs of rupees from parents for the admissions. The police officials are investigating to identify the exact number of students who obtained admissions under the RTE Act on the basis of bogus documents. On Tuesday, the police conducted searches at Shahid Sharif’s office located near Hardeo Hotel.

 

Following the arrest of parent Rajesh Shivpal Buwade, a resident of Ajni, by Sadar police on Tuesday, Sitabuldi Police arrested parent Shivshankar Satyanarayan Pandey from Mankapur area on Wednesday. The investigation was initiated after the Education Department conducted a thorough scrutiny of documents submitted by parents during their wards’ admissions under the RTE Act for the academic year 2023-24. Officials conducting the survey discovered discrepancies in the documents provided by these parents, including forged income certificates, caste certificates, and address proofs such as rent agreements.