Asst block education officer's educational certificate found fake in Odisha

In an irony of sorts, the certificates of an official of the education department, who was given the charge of verifying suspected fake certificates, were found to be fake. The incident was reported from Bolangir. 

Sources said, Shyamabandhu Mendili started his career as a teacher in Boudh district. After serving for a long period as a teacher, he joined the Bolangir Sadar block as the assistant block education officer (ABEO). After OTV carried reports on fake certificates submitted by teachers, Mendili’s certificate came under suspicion. 

As he submitted a BEd certificate from the IGNOU, it was sent to Delhi for verification. Thereafter, it was proved that his certificate was a fake one. The School and Mass Education department recommended the district education department to lodge a police complaint against Mendili. As the news spread, he went incommunicado. 

“The district education officer (DEO) of Bolangir had lodged a complaint citing that the BEd certificate of the ABEO is a fake one. On the basis of the complaint, we have registered a case and launched a probe.  After coming to know about the development, the said ABEO has absconded. The Superintendent of Police has asked us to form a team and nab him and three other absconding teachers. We will soon apprehend him,” said Bolangir SDPO, Tofan Bag. 

“They know that their certificates are fake. When their certificates are sent for verification, they keep in touch with some of the staff. When the report arrives, they come to know about it and abscond,” said SDPO Bag.

When contacted, the DEO refused to comment.