Probing a unique recruitment scandal in the Indian Army, the CBI has filed a case against 40 persons, including 34 candidates and unknown middlemen/touts, accusing them of using forged documents (fake domicile certificates) during the selection process. The 34 candidates got selected and had even joined training in the Army, but it was later found that they were ineligible. The agency has registered a preliminary enquiry in this matter on December 12, 2017 on the basis of source information.

The CBI FIR has stated that enquiry has revealed that Colonel Deepak Sharma, Director Recruiting, Recruiting Office (Headquarters) Lucknow has issued a letter to Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Hamirpur, Uttar Pradesh, for verification of domicle certificates issued by their office. “It was found fake during verification as such persons neither resides nor residing at the mentioned addresses,” the CBI FIR said. “Enquiry has revealed that four candidates were not sent for training due to various reasons whereas 30 candidates were sent to various training centres,” it said.

During preliminary enquiry, it was found that these 34 candidates have submitted fake and bogus domicle certificates, showing them to be residents of different villages/Kurara town, Hamirpur tehsil. The agency has examined several officials and employees of SDM office Hamirpur and it has been established that they have never issued domicle certificates to them and the same was found fake and bogus. These candidates were found to be residents of other districts rather than Hamirpur district. During investigation, it was found that one Girish NH Hawaldar posted at the Recruitment Office, Lucknow found indulged in telephonic conversation with Praveen Tomar and Yogendra Kumar, both private persons negotiating of bribe money. The telephonic conversation was intercepted by STF, UP after obtaining all requisite approval from various agencies in this regard.

All the accused have been booked under charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery, criminal misconduct and hacking with computer system. According to CBI, the recruitment process for posts of soldiers consists of three-tier examination system which includes physical test, medical test and written examination. The CBI filed the FIR following an April 19 complaint of its own Inspector Pradeep Kumar Singh who was part of the investigation of the case since December 12 last year when a preliminary enquiry was lodged.

In its PE, the agency has said that it has been alleged that during 2016-17, 34 candidates had participated in the Army recruitment drive carried out by headquarters, Recruiting Office of Indian Army, Lucknow and they in connivance with the touts, middlemen, unknown officials of Army headquarters, got finally selected for the posts of soldiers for technical duty, medical duty, general duty, clerical duty and sentry duty on the basis of domicle certificates purported to have been issued from the SDM office, Hamirpur where as all of them are residents of Western UP. In the PE, it was also alleged that most of the candidates out of these 34 candidates have also joined training in the Army at respective places.

In April this year, the CBI has booked 17 people including 12 Army officials for allegedly taking bribes during a recruitment drive held in 2013. The alleged irregularity pertains to recruitment of religious teachers (pandit) for various Army establishments. Once inducted into the force, these candidates are tasked to perform priestly services and deliver motivational talks to the jawans.

Courtesy: The Pioneer, Friday, 11 May 2018 | Rajesh Kumar | New Delhi