FIR filed against tehsildar and seven others in the alleged fraud case
Mohammad Alamullah | Clarion India
NEW DELHI – A scam involving the creation of a fake Scheduled Caste (SC) certificate has surfaced in the Uttar Pradesh town of Nagina in Bijnor district. The chief of the Vishwa Dalit Parishad has lodged an FIR accusing the tehsildar and other administrative officials of collusion in the matter.
The Nagina police have registered a case against eight individuals, including the tehsildar, under various sections related to fraud and SC-ST Act violations.
The issue came to light when Bhupendra Pal Singh, president of the Vishwa Dalit Parishad and a resident of Ambedkar Colony, approached Superintendent of Police (SP) Neeraj Kumar Jadoun alleging that Jaswant Singh, son of Madan Singh, from Sabuwala village in the Nagina Dehat police station area, had fraudulently obtained an SC certificate on 24 September 2002 by colluding with the tehsildar and other administrative staff. Jaswant Singh allegedly provided false documents and paid a substantial bribe to secure the certificate, which he used to avail benefits reserved for Scheduled Castes.
Talking to Clarion India over the phone, Bhupendra Pal Singh said as a Dalit, he raises the voice of the Scheduled Caste community and all other poor, women, and labourers through his social organisation, Vishwa Dalit Parishad. “My organisation provides justice to the victims by taking legal action against the oppression of the poor, SC-ST women, backward classes, and farmers in India. We also protest and conduct hunger strikes against those illegally benefiting from fake SC, ST, OBC certificates,” he said.
Singh further explained the increasing issue of fake certificate holders, saying: “The number of people taking advantage of reservation by obtaining fake SC certificates is continuously increasing in India. There are approximately 1,000 to 2,000 fake SC, ST, and OBC certificate holders in each district, with an estimated total of around 10 lakh across the country. Despite this, central and state governments, political parties, and social organisations show little interest in addressing this issue because it is a risky and long struggle.”
He said Jaswant Singh, originally from Baijnathpur village, Thakurdwara Tehsil in Moradabad district, falsified documents and affidavits to hide his original caste. He, with the collusion of some officials, obtained the fake Scheduled Caste Certificate No. 2480 from Nagina Tehsil on 24 September 2002. This allowed him to unlawfully benefit from reservations meant for Scheduled Castes.
After 21 years of relentless efforts by the Vishwa Dalit Parishad, the District Level Caste Certificate Scrutiny Committee, chaired by the District Magistrate of Bijnor, cancelled the fraudulent certificate on 24 January 2024. Following this, Bhupendra reported that Jaswant Singh and two accomplices confronted him, verbally abused him, and threatened his life.
Currently, on the orders of SP Neeraj Jadoun, the Nagina police have registered a case against Jaswant Singh and seven others, including the tehsildar. They are charged under several serious sections, including fraud and SC-ST Act violations. The police investigation is ongoing, and more details are expected to emerge as the inquiry progresses.
The case highlights the pervasive issue of fraudulent caste certificates and the need for stringent checks and balances within the administrative framework. Bhupendra Pal Singh’s efforts underscore the importance of vigilant social organisations in exposing and combating such fraud. As the investigation unfolds, it will be crucial to see what measures are implemented to prevent similar occurrences in the future and to ensure that the benefits of reservation reach the rightful beneficiaries.
