Pune police have uncovered a scheme involving counterfeit participation certificates for Kurash competitions. These fake documents were allegedly used by candidates to secure positions under the sports quota in recruitment exams. Kurash, a traditional form of upright jacket wrestling, has been practiced in Maharashtra since 2012 under the auspices of the state Kurash Association.
Shivajinagar police have registered an FIR under sections 3(5), 318(4), 336(3), 338, 339, 340(2), 61(2) of BNS and arrested Ankush Vitthal Nagar, state president of the association, and its secretary Shivaji Jaywant Salunkhe. Shankar Khatke, assistant commissioner of police with the crime branch who is investigating the case, told TOI , “Both Nagar and Salunkhe were produced before the court and have been remanded in police custody till Sept 8. Several other district-level office bearers, who allegedly acted as mediators between aspirants and the key accused, have also been named in the case. The racket came to light during a crime branch investigation after police received information this June about the use of suspected fake sports certificates in the recent police recruitment process in Pune.
At the sports department, competition participation data is verified and then certificates are issued,” Singla said. The sports department maintains data based on information submitted and certified by the respective associations. “If the data is manipulated, it is part of a criminal investigation.