Special Correspondent
Pune: A major salary fraud involving 50 art teachers from various secondary schools under the Pune Zilla Shikshan Mandal has come to light. These teachers allegedly submitted a forged government order to unlawfully claim graduate-level pay scales. The case has prompted Secondary Education Officer Dr. Bhausaheb Karekar to lodge a formal complaint with the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).
The revelation has also placed Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who serves as the chairman of the Mandal, in a difficult position.
Fake Order Exposed on WhatsApp
The forged document, purportedly issued by the School Education Department, carried the fake signatures of Under Secretary Pravin Mundhe and Secondary Education Officer Dr. Karekar. On October 25, 2024, the fraudulent government decision was shared via WhatsApp. However, further verification revealed that it was not listed on the state government’s official website.
Investigation Committee Formed
In response to the discovery, the Director of Education (Planning), Dr. Mahesh Palkar, has formed a six-member committee tasked with conducting a detailed investigation and submitting a report to the government.
The investigation involves questioning the implicated teachers, although no written explanations have been collected so far. School principals and administrative staff linked to the case will also be interrogated. Authorities plan to thoroughly review records from the Secondary Education Office, Salary and Provident Fund Department, and Salary Verification Office.
District-Wide Probe Initiated
A critical aspect of the investigation is determining whether similar fraudulent activities have taken place in other schools across the Pune district. The committee aims to submit its findings to the government within a month.
Authorities have vowed strict action against those found guilty, emphasizing the need to safeguard the integrity of educational institutions and public funds.
