Pune Police have arrested 25 people, including 14 police personnel, in an alleged kurash certificate racket linked to government recruitment, while six other suspects remain absconding as investigators examine whether forged sports credentials were used to secure jobs across departments.
The case centres on certificates in kurash, a martial arts sport, which investigators suspect were submitted by candidates who had not participated in the competitions required for sports-based recruitment. According to the available report, some of the accused allegedly entered government service using the disputed documents, and some had already undergone police training.
Of the 31 people reportedly identified in the case, 25 have been arrested and six are still being traced. Some of those arrested have been sent to Yerawada Central Jail. Police are continuing their search for the absconding suspects as the investigation expands beyond the police department.
The inquiry has also raised questions about how the alleged irregularities were detected and whether recruitment-stage verification was adequate. Investigators have reportedly found indications that some personnel connected to the case did not attend training, adding another layer to the scrutiny of appointments and departmental processes.
The suspected use of the certificates may not be limited to police recruitment. Pune Police are communicating with other government departments to examine appointments and verify the credentials submitted by candidates. Employees who obtained positions using the disputed certificates could face further scrutiny if investigators establish irregularities in individual cases.
Sports reservations in government recruitment are intended to provide opportunities to athletes who have demonstrated their ability at eligible state, national or other recognised competitions. The alleged fraud has therefore brought the protection of that recruitment channel into focus, particularly for sportspersons who meet the qualification requirements and compete for a limited number of posts.
The available information does not establish how many appointments across departments may ultimately be connected to the alleged network. Police are examining the certificates, tracing the remaining suspects and coordinating with the concerned departments as part of the continuing investigation.
A person is also reported to have died after suffering a heart attack following registration of the case. The circumstances surrounding the death have not been detailed in the available information. The investigation remains under way, with the next steps focused on locating the six absconding suspects and verifying appointments linked to the disputed certificates.
