Fake certificate racket busted in Odisha’s Balangir; 19 arrested

Balangir: Police today arrested 19 people in connection with a fake certificate racket busted in Balangir district.

The arrest came following a raid on a private educational institution and seizure of huge amount of fake certificates.

“Based on a report received from the Superintendent of Balangir Post Office on fake certificate scam, we collected further information and registered a case under sections 467, 468, 471, 34 of IPC. During investigation, we raided Reliance Education Institute and seized around 5000 fake certificates, which were appearing as original. In this connection, we arrested 19 persons. They will be forwarded to court today,” informed Balangir Superintendent of Police Kusalkar Nitin Dagudu.

Balangir police seized fake certificates, marksheets of at least 41 universities and schools, cash, computer hard disc, mobile phones, 5-6 land documents, rubber stamps of 27 officials in ranks of joint director, project director and tehsildar.

The police will further investigate into the land documents seized during the raid to ascertain whether financial transactions were made to purchase land in the process of crime, the SP stated.

Sources said that the accused persons were charging between Rs 50,000 and Rs 5 lakh for the fake certificates. The racket operated from a private coaching centre in Balangir is likely to have spread to other districts in the state.