Bhubaneswar, June 13: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has launched an extensive probe following a complaint from the Director of Postal Services in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. 

The investigation has led to searches at over 67 locations across various districts of Odisha, including Kalahandi, Nuapada, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Kandhamal, Kendujhar, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, and Bhadrak. This massive operation involves more than 204 officials, including 122 CBI officers and 82 personnel from other departments, underscoring the scale and seriousness of the investigation. The search teams are striving to uncover the interstate organized gang responsible for providing fake certificates.

The CBI registered a regular case on May 9, 2023, under sections 120-B, 420, 468, and 471 read with 511 of the IPC, and section 7(a) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018). The case is based on a complaint by the Postal Department against 63 candidates of the Gramin Dak Sevak (GDS) Exam, 2023 (Odisha Circle) and others, including unknown officials of the postal department and unknown private persons.

The complaint pertains to the recruitment process for 1,382 GDS posts, for which online applications were invited on January 27, 2023. The minimum qualification required was a 10th pass certificate from any recognized board, with proficiency in the local language being mandatory. Applicants were required to upload their certificates and mark sheets to a centralized server, and selection was automated based on the marks secured in the 10th standard. Selected candidates were informed via SMS and email and were asked to report to the verifying authority within 15 days for document verification prior to their appointment.

During the verification process, the Odisha Postal Circle allegedly discovered that 63 candidates from various postal divisions, including Baleswar, Mayurbhanj, Kalahandi, and Berhampur, had submitted forged or fake 10th pass certificates. These certificates were purportedly issued by the Board of High School and Intermediate Education, Allahabad; West Bengal Board, Kolkata; Jharkhand Academic Council, Ranchi; among others. The complaint suggests the involvement of an interstate racket in creating and supplying these forged certificates in collusion with the candidates.

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