The Special Task Force (STF) of Madhya Pradesh has registered an FIR against 25 government officers and employees accused of securing jobs using forged Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificates. The fraudulent entries span departments including education, health, police, and public works, raising serious questions about institutional integrity in Gwalior‑Chambal and beyond.
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A Decade of Deception Behind Official Roles
STF’s covert probe began after confidential reports to Special DG Pankaj Srivastava revealed that several government staffers—including teachers, engineers, doctors, clerks, and even web developers—had fraudulently claimed ST status to gain appointments. Investigators found their fake certificates had been verified at SDM and tehsildar offices, passing muster during formal scrutiny.
The five initial names listed in the FIR are Sitaram, Jawahar Singh, Sarla Manjhi, Rajesh Kumar, Kusum Manjhi, and Sunita Rawat—teachers whose fraudulent caste status paved the way to secure state jobs. The STF’s investigation has already uncovered 25 suspects; officials indicate more names may surface as the probe widens.
Deep‑Rooted Network Exploited Official Channels
Evidence suggests a professional racket orchestrated the forgery, collaborating with officials in SDM offices to process and blindly verify certificates. Gwalior appears to have been the main hub, with some fake documents traced to as far as Indore, Vidisha, Hoshangabad, Shajapur, Bhopal, and Betul. The fraudsters reportedly exploited automated verification systems to secure not just employment but also promotions and long-term career growth.
One senior STF officer noted, “These employees have worked in various departments for 10–15 years,” possessing documents validated during routine verification, without raising suspicions. This systemic failure has allowed many to maintain public roles under false pretences.
Consequences and Wider Ramifications
The state police have launched an 11-member Special Investigation Team to dismantle the racket. Charges are expected under forgery, cheating, misuse of official documents, and public trust violations. More arrests are anticipated as the net widens beyond the initially identified 25.
Public reaction has been one of outrage, demanding stringent audits and digital ID verification at the point of job selection. Legal experts call this scandal a dramatic symptom of deeper systemic weaknesses in India’s reservation and recruitment framework.
About the Author – Anirudh Mittal is a B.Sc. LL.B. (Hons.) student at National Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar, with a keen interest in corporate law and tech-driven legal change.