A major development has emerged in the investigation into an alleged ₹160 crore payroll scam in Maharashtra. The Nashik Crime Branch has arrested education sector-linked individual Sanjay Bhaskarrao Garud for allegedly obtaining government salary payments through fake appointment documents, forged approval orders and allegedly manipulated Shalarth IDs. Investigators suspect that records were altered to facilitate government salary payments to 177 teachers and non-teaching employees.
According to police, accused Sanjay Bhaskarrao Garud was arrested from a farmhouse in Solapur district. After his arrest, he was produced before a Nashik court, which sent him to 10 days of police custody. Investigators are now examining the alleged network, the process through which fake documents were created and the financial transactions linked to the case.
During the investigation, police found that Garud was associated with the Shendurni Education Co-operative Society, which operates several educational institutions. The society reportedly runs 15 schools, and all 177 teachers and non-teaching employees named in the case are allegedly linked to these institutions.
Police have alleged that mandatory government procedures were not followed for the appointments of these employees. Investigators claim that appointment proposals were not submitted to the Education Department and the Secondary Education Officer of the Zilla Parishad, Jalgaon. Despite this, forged approval orders were allegedly prepared and used to generate Shalarth IDs by uploading documents on the online Shalarth system.
In Maharashtra, a Shalarth ID is mandatory for teachers and non-teaching staff to receive government salaries. The ID is issued only after an employee’s appointment is verified and approved by the Education Department.
Investigators allege that fake appointment approval letters and Shalarth sanction documents were prepared without the required permissions. These documents were allegedly uploaded on the online portal to generate IDs for employees who were not eligible for government salaries.
According to police, salaries and other financial benefits were then allegedly released from government funds through these suspected fake Shalarth IDs. Investigators are now trying to determine the total amount of money released through this process and identify the actual beneficiaries.
During the probe, a report by the Secondary Education Officer, Jalgaon, reportedly raised concerns over possible tampering with official records. The office of the Deputy Director of Education in Nashik has also questioned the authenticity of several Shalarth approval orders allegedly used in the process.
Police claim that joining reports of 177 employees were submitted, showing their appointments between 2011 and 2013. Investigators have also found that 147 of these joining reports were allegedly prepared on the same day, raising doubts over the authenticity of the documents and the appointment process.
Investigating agencies are now examining how much money was released from the government treasury on the basis of the alleged forged documents and who benefited from the funds. Police are also investigating the role of principals, administrative officials, employees of the 15 schools and other possible associates.
The investigation is also focused on whether any individual gained financial benefits through the alleged process or whether any person involved in the government system played a role in facilitating the suspected fraud.
Several other individuals have also come under the scanner during the investigation. Police have invoked provisions related to organised crime under Section 111 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Investigators suspect that the alleged fraud may have been carried out in a planned manner by misusing government procedures and the online Shalarth portal.
The police are currently examining documents, tracking financial records and identifying people allegedly linked to the network. Officials said further legal action will be taken against additional individuals if their involvement emerges during the investigation.
