Bhubaneswar: Capital Police have arrested a 33-year-old contractual staffer of Odisha Home Department for allegedly using forged educational certificates to apply for a higher post.
The accused, Shiba Prasad Rath of Hadagadia Sahi in Puri district, was initially selected a few years ago for the position of junior executive assistant in the department through the Odisha Staff Selection Commission (OSSC).
According to police, Rath recently applied for a promotion or higher position within the department and submitted what appeared to be a BCA degree certificate from Monad University in Uttar Pradesh, along with migration and provisional certificates from the institution.
Routine verification exposed the fraud. Department officials contacted Monad University authorities and the Hapur police station in Uttar Pradesh. Both confirmed that Rath had never enrolled or studied at the university, confirming the documents were forged.
Home Department Deputy Secretary Pradeep Kumar Behera subsequently filed a complaint at Capital police station. A case was registered on June 1 under relevant sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including those related to forgery and cheating. Rath was apprehended from Nagpur RI Circle under Gop tehsil in Puri district on Sunday.
During initial questioning, the accused reportedly confessed to the offence. He was produced before a local court, and further investigation is underway.
