Bolangir fake certificate racket: More arrests likely, says Crime Branch DSP

As anticipated, more persons are likely to be arrested in the major fake certificate racket which was recently busted in Bolangir district, said a senior Crime Branch official on Thursday.

Crime Branch DSP Debabrata Chakra said that a detailed investigation is currently underway in connection with the fake certificate racket by taking into account multiple aspects.

“It will not be appropriate to comment on the issue as of now as the investigation is underway. More arrests are also likely,” said the Crime Branch official.

The official further said that a team is also likely to conduct a special investigation outside Odisha as well. At present, a 10-member Crime Branch team is carrying out probe in Bolangir by interacting with senior officials of Bolangir Police and interrogating the accused.

It is pertinent to mention here that Bolangir SP had earlier claimed that it was only the tip of the iceberg. The Crime Branch is also interrogating prime accused Manoj Mishra and three other accused.

All of them have been brought on remand. OTV had first exposed the massive irregularities and telecast the reports on how aspirants furnished fake certificates to secure postal jobs in Bolangir.

On March 27, the police arrested Manoj Mishra, the owner of the coaching centre ‘Reliance Education Institute, and 18 others in connection with the racket.

During the raid, Bolangir police had stumbled upon over 1000 fake certificates in the name of 41 reputed universities. The fake certificates along with verification reports, seals, diaries and rubber stamps, mobile phones, bank accounts and land documents were also seized by the police. Besides, the raid team also seized Rs 3.67 lakh in cash from the possession of Mishra.