Odisha Fake Certificate Racket: Govt Employees Under Crime Branch Scanner, More Arrests Likely

Balangir: Intensifying its probe in the fake certificate case in Odisha’s Balangir, the Crime Branch has put more than 200 people under its scanner.

The Crime Branch team, which has been camping in Balangir since since April 1, is examining the role of 200 people, including government employees and brokers, sources said.

While the process of arresting all those involved in the racket has been initiated, the Crime Branch sleuths have detained three persons for interrogation. After being picked up by CB sleuths on Sunday, three youths are being interrogated extensively in the reserve barracks.

On the other hand, a team led by Crime Branch DSP visited the town police station for preparing a blueprint to arrest the other accused persons.

A five-member team also visited prime accused Manoj Mishra’s Reliance Coaching Center for further investigation. The police had raided the coaching center earlier and seized several documents and other articles.

During the fresh operation, the crime branch team reportedly  seized some more stamps and papers. It is believed that these items were seized on the basis of information obtained from Manoj Mishra during his interrogation while in remand.

This apart, the crime branch has reportedly extracted a complete map of Manoj Mishra’s racket from the four accused persons when they were interrogated thoroughly during remand.

DSP Debabrata Chakra was reported to have said that the case is being investigated. There are many people under the scanner and more arrests will be made.

It has also come to light during investigation that accused Manoj Mishra used had set up a small coaching center for children before he expanded his activities when the number of students increased. Ten years ago, he started distance learning courses. Later he appointed various brokers in villages and towns.

While he was allegedly collecting lakhs of rupees from students for giving certificates, many people were not aware that he was issuing fake certificates in this racket. Those who knew, kept quiet for money. Thousands of students have been getting government jobs in various departments with fake certificates and mark sheets. As a result, many talented people suffered.

Sources said fake certificates and mark sheets of around 42 universities, schools and colleges outside the state were being made. Lakhs of rupees were also collected for providing jobs in different places.