Fake OBC candidate among MPSC aspirants
Probe against an SDC begins
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, July 25 2011:
In amidst of fake OBC certificate scam which surfaced when two women were recruited in the Manipur Police Department as Sub Inspector, a fresh case of fake OBC certificates being used by three MPSC aspirants came into light.
The matter came to light only when officials of the Manipur Public Service Commission sent the OBC documents submitted by the aspirants for the Manipur Civil Services Combined Competitive Examination (Prelims) 2010 to the concern DCs for verification.
The three aspirants who submitted fake OBC certificates for the examination were Thongam Munal of New Chekkon, Soraisham Bidyalakshmi of Khurai Sajor Leikai and Nongmeikappam Naresh of Heingang.
The OBC certificates were found to be fake certificate by the Imphal East DC during verification process after MPSC officials sent them to him.
One Thokchom Deven who is a Sub Deputy Collector in Ukhrul district is the accused in issuing the fake certificates to the candidates.
He was earning money by selling fake OBC certificates with fake round seals of Imphal East DC and Executive Magistrate.
He also forged the signature of the DC while selling the fake certificate.
As the scam came into light, Imphal East DC has lodged a FIR case in Porompat Police Station against the accused SDO Deven with charge of forgery.
Police began probe against the SDC regarding the fake OBC certificate scam.
Meanwhile the accused SDC Thokchom Deven has also confessed to the Police about the scam, police report says.
Police also interrogated the three candidates who were found submitting the fake certificates.
However the trio firmly denied their involvement in the scam as the certificates were procured by their guardians for them.
Police source says that accused SDC Deven was a Zilladar in the Imphal East Revenue Department from 2007 to 2008.Police have seized the fake seals and certificates he issued.
Mention may be made that Gauhati High Court had sought reply from Imphal West DC and other concerns about a fake OBC scam in which two women were found using fake OBC certificate issued by the Imphal West DC office for the recruitment of SI in the Manipur Police.
There were also instant when fake OBC certificates were used in the examination of recruiting doctors in the State Health Services conducted by MPSC.
As per the existing rule, OBC certificates should only be issued to those low income groups who are not included under the creamy layer of the state Gazette on submission of No Due Certificates of Electric Bill and Land taxes including Income Certificate.
The documents checked by concerned SDCs should be submitted to the concerned DCs for recommendation by the SDOs after which the OBC certificate can be issued.
However, many officials in the state are not following the rules.
They simply charge around Rs 200 from a person to issue the certificate.
Many persons who do not like to go through the lengthy proper channel are finding the corrupt nature of the officials as an easy way to get OBC certificates by spending a mere hundreds.
In order to curb the scam of fake OBC certificate, there is urgent need for the government to probe the matter at the earliest.