Shalarth ID scam: Net widens as police target 30 school-owners

 

 

With the arrest of school owner Dilip Dhote in Shalarth ID scam on Saturday, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by Assistant Commissioner of Police Sunita Meshram is likely to give major blow to the school owners who have made alleged illegal appointment of teachers. According to highly-placed sources, the police have identified 30 school-owners involved in the scam. Action has been initiated against the institution owners who recruited teachers in schools by submitting fake proposals of teachers’ approval for the Shalarth ID. Dilip Dhote, the chairman and director of Vitthal-Rukhmini Primary Multipurpose Educational Institute, is the first among school-owners arrested in this case. Pune-based sources told ‘The Hitavada’ that the alleged kingpin of Shalarth ID scam Nilesh Waghmare, Pay Unit Superintendent, will be arrested in this week.

 

The main accused in the teacher recruitment scam case, Pay Superintendent Nilesh Waghmare, was suspended after which he remains absconding. The SIT is trying to trap him and the possibility of his arrest has increased, sources said. The district and sessions court has already rejected Waghmare’s anticipatory bail application. This is a major disappointment to Waghmare. Earlier, when he approached the High Court, the High Court also refused to provide relief. Waghmare is in touch with his relatives on WhatsApp calling. Some of his friends are providing him with new SIM cards. Due to this, it is taking time to trace his location. However, sources clarified that the police will reach him soon. Educational institution owners took money in lump sum. In the Shalarth ID case, salaries were withdrawn in back date from the date of appointment of bogus teachers.

 

These salaries and arrears amount in crores of rupees. Sources informed that Waghmare and the relevant educational institution owners took their share of money in lump sum. In this case, the situation has become difficult for teachers who have been appointed with bogus names as they will also lose their jobs. The police have taken the institution owner into custody in the bogus Shalarth ID case, which has shaken the confidence of other institution directors. Now some bogus principals and institution owners have come on the police radar. The number of officers and employees arrested by the police in the bogus Shalarth ID case has reached 16 so far. The recruitment of bogus teachers was going on since 2012. Since then, about 1,000 teachers have been appointed in Nagpur district, of which only 350 appointments have been completed properly. Two accused, including Pay Unit Superintendent Nilesh Waghmare, are absconding and search for them is on. 

 

 

The committee led by School Education Director Mahesh Palkar is likely to submit its investigation report in next two days. It will also discuss the points of investigation with Nagpur police. As is known, there is doubt on appointment of 1,056 teachers. But this committee remained clueless about 640 teachers’ records. It is learnt that the school-owners made appointments of teachers, minted money and with the help of education officials, showed these teachers excess of numbers. These teachers were sent to other schools. Identifying such records is a bit difficult. These 640 teachers are among 1,056 ‘beneficiary’ teachers. This particular aspect is haunting the education department, because the committee has to submit the record fool proof.