Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Navi Mumbai, Feb 12: The Vashi police have registered an FIR against retired deputy director of education Nitin Upasani and 18 others for allegedly orchestrating a Shalarth ID fraud that enabled ????????? appointed teachers to draw government salary grants using forged documents.
The complaint was filed by Rajendra Ahire, Vashi divisional chairman of the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE), Mumbai Divisional Board. Based on document scrutiny at the divisional office, authorities alleged that the accused had been involved in the scam since August 2018, during Upasani’s tenure as divisional chairman.
According to Senior Inspector Shashikant Chandekar of Vashi police station, the accused allegedly created Shalarth IDs — unique identification numbers issued to teachers in government and aided schools for maintaining service records and processing salaries — using forged paperwork. This enabled ineligible individuals to receive monthly government salary grants, leading to an estimated loss of Rs 1.25 crore to the state exchequer.
The FIR specifically mentions that one of the accused, Shekhar Kulkarni, illegally secured a Shalarth ID for his wife, Gayatri Kulkarni, who was shown as being attached to Sakharam Vaman Joshi High School in Dombivli. It is alleged that Upasani colluded in facilitating the fraudulent ID.
Those named in the case include office-bearers, principals, teachers, and staff from two educational institutions — Janata Shikshan Prasarak Mandal in Alibag and Khopoli Taluka Shikshan Prasarak Mandal.
From the Alibag institution, the accused include secretary Milind Patil, former principal Anil Patil, current principal Sonali Patil, and assistant teachers Mayuri Patil, Jayesh Patil, Swapnil Raut and Vaibhav Gosavi.
From the Khopoli institution, those named are supervisor Kishore Patil, principal N.B. Pawar, N. Ramaswamy, D.P. Haridas, N.B. Khanvilkar, P.G. Patil, current principal D.P. Gaikwad, assistant teacher Prachi Nalawade, director Dinesh Gurav, Shekhar Kulkarni, and Gayatri Kulkarni. The FIR also mentions other unidentified individuals.
Upasani had earlier been arrested in December last year by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Nashik city police in connection with a similar Shalarth ID fraud involving aided schools in Jalgaon, Chalisgaon, and Dhule. Investigators alleged he colluded with school managements to fabricate teacher appointments for salary benefits.
After his arrest, Upasani was in police custody for 10 days before being granted bail by a Nashik court. However, he was subsequently taken into custody again by Nashik rural police in connection with another FIR and is currently lodged at Nashik Central Prison.
Further investigation into the Vashi case is underway.