CBI probes 'fake' certificate scam in HP postal jobs

CBI investigation in a major fake certificate scam in Shimla’s postal department has hinted, at the initial stage, towards the complicity of officials within the department for letting unscrupulous candidates use forged documents during the recruitment process.

- RAHUL CHHABRA

The fake document racket is believed to have its network spread across several states, including Tamil Nadu and Odisha, said sources.

While questioning suspects in the Himachal scam, CBI is also studying the common links between similar fake certificate scams in postal departments of other states. For instance, during the recruitment in the postal department in Odisha, fake certificates were manufactured by gangs which sold certificates of more than 40 institutions spread across the country for Rs 50,000 to Rs 5 lakh.

It has also come to the knowledge that some Himachal Pradesh-based public servants and private persons were also involved in this big scam of preparation/issuances of forged marksheets of several candidates, said an investigator.