Criminal Case to Be Filed Against Those Involved in Fake Shalarth ID Scam – School Education Department

Mumbai : In light of the seriousness of the fake Shalarth ID case in Nagpur district, the School Education Department has stated that instructions have been issued to the Commissioner of School Education to file criminal charges against all those involved.

According to reports published across various media platforms, since 2019, nearly 580 primary and secondary teachers and non-teaching staff in Nagpur district were issued fake Shalarth IDs and personal approval orders without proper verification. The Education Department has provided a detailed statement on the issue.

On August 23, 2024, the Director of Education (Primary), Pune, had formed an investigation committee under the chairmanship of the Divisional Chairman of Nagpur Divisional Board. Based on their inquiry, the investigating officer submitted a list of 580 primary and non-teaching staff who had received fake Shalarth IDs since 2019 to the office of the Deputy Director of Education, Nagpur Division.

Upon verification, it was found that even though the Deputy Director’s office did not issue any official orders, fake Shalarth ID drafts were generated by hacking or misusing the online Shalarth system. Further, it was revealed that the login credentials of Drawing and Disbursing Officers and Account Officers were misused to create and insert these drafts into the system, which were then forwarded to the schools. Subsequently, the Superintendent of the Salary and Pension Section (Primary), Zilla Parishad Nagpur, approved them, and salary and arrear payments were issued based on those drafts.

On March 7, 2025, the office of the Commissioner of Education was officially informed about this malpractice. Following this, a report was submitted to the government on March 10, 2025, confirming the misappropriation of government funds.

The inquiry further found Superintendent Nilesh Waghmare of the Salary and Pension Section (Primary), Zilla Parishad Nagpur, to be directly involved in the embezzlement. Disciplinary proceedings have been proposed against him and all other responsible officials and employees. Additionally, Waghmare has been suspended from government service as per an order dated April 9, 2025.

Considering the gravity of the matter, the Commissioner of Education has been directed to initiate criminal proceedings against all related officials from the offices of the Deputy Director of Education (Nagpur), Education Officer (Primary/Secondary, Nagpur), Salary and Pension Section (ZP Nagpur), as well as responsible personnel from private aided schools.