The Rajasthan Education Department has dismissed 134 physical training instructors after a preliminary inquiry revealed widespread document fraud and identity mismatches in the Rajasthan Staff Selection Board’s PTI Recruitment-2022. The administrative action follows an independent investigation by an unsuccessful candidate that uncovered discrepancies across 1,254 applications, pointing to a network involving dummy examinees, forged sports certificates, and fraudulent degrees.
Unsuccessful Candidate Uncovers Irregularities
The issue came to light through the efforts of Prem Golia, a resident of Ghodawat in Jodhpur, who had appeared for the recruitment test. Despite recording high scores, Golia was not included in the final selection list, prompting him to review the results independently. He conducted an extensive examination of the public records and verification files of 5,567 candidates called for document screening.
By cross-referencing these files with submissions made by the same individuals in other state recruitment examinations, Golia detected significant variations in candidate photographs attached to identical names and personal details. The review also revealed conflicting academic claims. Several candidates had listed a Bachelor of Physical Education (B.P.Ed) degree from one institution in their initial applications, but submitted credentials from an entirely different university during verification. In multiple instances, certificates presented to authorities carried dates issued after the declaration of the exam results, while others showed candidates completing regular degree programmes simultaneously at separate institutions during identical academic terms.
Decoy Operation Exposes Fake Degree Network
Golia formally submitted his dossier of findings to the selection board, which subsequently forwarded the evidence to the Rajasthan Police’s Special Operations Group (SOG). To establish how the racket manufactured fraudulent credentials, Golia took part in an undercover decoy operation coordinated alongside the SOG. During the sting, Golia paid 3 lakh rupees to procure a backdated, fraudulent B.P.Ed certificate issued under the name of OPJS University, providing investigators with direct physical proof of the network’s operations.
The SOG subsequently opened a comprehensive inquiry into the candidate pool. The agency’s preliminary verification established formal document mismatches in the cases of 1,254 candidates. The investigation quickly widened beyond credential fraud, establishing that more than 300 dummy candidates had been hired to sit for the written examination in place of genuine applicants.
Around 2,000 Appointees Remain Under Scrutiny
While the state government has already terminated 134 instructors who secured employment through fraudulent records, the recruitment drive remains under extensive administrative and police scrutiny. Investigators are currently reviewing the background files of approximately 2,000 selected physical training instructors who are presently serving in schools across Rajasthan. State officials confirmed that subsequent administrative penalties and legal proceedings will depend on the final outcome of the ongoing document verification process.
The disclosures have raised serious questions over procedural vulnerabilities within the selection board’s vetting systems, particularly regarding how identity discrepancies and conflicting qualifications went undetected through the examination, document verification, and appointment phases.
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