It was being said that the roots of Shalarth ID scam that brought the illegal appointment of primary teachers to the fore spread across Maharashtra. But the committee investigating the matter is clear that the scope of Shalarth ID scam is limited to Nagpur district. The way the scam took place can’t happen elsewhere, said a very senior official of Education Department on condition of anonymity. Director of Education Dr Mahesh Palkar while talking to ‘The Hitavada’ made it clear, “The report is being prepared. We have to take every minute thing into consideration. A smallest mistake would unnecessarily defame the individual and it can also disturb the whole investigation process. Considering the vastness of the scam, the submission of the report may take some more time.” According to Palkar, the scope of the scam has not spread across Maharashtra.

 

The modus operandi applied while making appointments of teachers in primary schools in Nagpur district is very peculiar. Some fake appointments have been identified in places other than Nagpur district, but those are not in huge number and their style too was different. For example, some teachers were appointed on submission of fake documents of qualification. But, in Shalarth ID scam, that took place in Nagpur district, the signature of the dead education officer was used and the arrears to the tune of Rs 50 lakh were availed. The modus operandi was altogether different and unique. Palkar has also been asked to submit report of Shalarth scam related to Nagpur district. The committee conducting investigation into the scam noticed a total of 2,700 cases that included officers, school owners, teachers, non-teaching staff. It is now clear that the irregularities took place only in primary and not in secondary or higher secondary level.

 

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged ‘Shalarth ID’ scam in Maharashtra has found that more than 1,000 teachers were recruited without following laid down procedures. Shalarth is a centralised portal of the Maharashtra Government to manage payroll and service records of staffers of Government and Government-aided schools, including teachers. In this regard, State Education Commissioner Sachchindra Pratap Singh had come to Nagpur and met Commissioner of Police Dr Ravinder Kumar Singal. They both exchanged some major and significant information. It is learnt that the stand of the Education Department was that action should be taken against all those involved in this scam.

 

It is being expressed as a surprise that the mastermind of the Shalarth ID scam, Superintendent of the Pay Department, Nilesh Waghmare, has not been arrested yet. Now, police are confident of Waghmare’s arrest in a day or two. Nilesh Waghmare was suspended on the complaint of former Deputy Director Ulhas Narad. In this scam, it is alleged that salaries were approved to ineligible teachers by creating bogus Shalarth IDs, using signature of the then Education Officer Someshwar Netam. Netam was Education Officer in 2011 and 2012. He retired in 2014 and passed away in 2016. Somebody cleverly scanned his signature which was used while making appointments in 2019. The appointments made in 2019 were shown of 2011, carrying the scanned signatures of Netam. A huge amount of arrears too was given to the teachers which went into the pockets of the institution owners and officers of Pay Squad.