PANAJI
Plagued by a growing number of cases of forged certificates, the department has witnessed suspension, dismissal and even forced retirement of some men-in-khaki while some in service remain under scrutiny.
The issue extends to even high-ranking officers as in the past Deputy Superintendents of Police Deu Banaulikar and Gajanan Prabhudesai, too faced inquiries for allegedly submitting fake birth certificates.
Banaulikar’s situation led to his voluntary retirement whereas another retired officer, Prabhudesai has a First Information Report (FIR) registered against him at Panaji Police Station.
Another case involves Police Sub-Inspector Ritesh Faldessai, accused of submitting fake degree certificates and mark sheets purportedly issued by Bundelkhand University in Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, during his recruitment. An inquiry confirmed discrepancies resulting in his suspension and subsequent dismissal from service in 2019.
A head constable, Shamba Pednekar from Tuem in Pernem, also reportedly falsified his Secondary School Certificate Examination certificate. Though the matter came to the fore nearly 25 years after he was recruited as a police constable, the department dismissed him from service.
While these are just a few cases, the department has grappled with numerous similar situations including a woman PSI’s alleged involvement in the fraud. The 1988-batch PSI also voluntarily retired.
In another case, a complaint was lodged against a PSI who was recruited in 2007 while his brother, a retired DySP, was not only involved in setting up recruitment question papers but also physically present during the written and practical exams.
Despite the PSI’s dismissal orders on two occasions, he was reinstated following the High Court’s intervention while the inquiry is still pending.
