Probe on to determine role of ‘syndicate’ in EWS racket

Judicial custody for man who used fake papers to get son admitted to Sanskriti School

NEW DELHI, 10/08/2009: Now the swine flu spreading its fangs the authorities closing down Sanskriti School as a precautionary measure, after a sixth grade student is detected with swine flu, in New Delhi on August 10, 2009. Photo: V.V. Krishnan

Days after a north Delhi-based businessman was arrested for allegedly using forged documents to get his younger son admitted to a prominent school under the economically weaker sections (EWS) quota, the police on Sunday said they are investigating the possibility of an organised syndicate behind the racket.

Jawahar Nagar resident Gaurav Goel was arrested on April 5 for using forged documents to get his elder son admitted to Sanskriti School in Chanakyapuri under the EWS quota in 2013, the police said.

“Mr. Goel was sent to 14-day judicial custody after his three days remand ended on Saturday. He claims the forged documents are correct and cannot be challenged,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Madhur Verma. He added that the fate of the elder child’s admission will be decided by the Admissions Department.

The documents submitted at the time of his elder son’s admission in 2013 state that Mr. Goel lived in Sanjay Camp, a slum near Chanakyapuri, and his annual income was ₹67,000.

In 2018, he approached the school for admission of his younger son. However, he told the school that his financial condition had improved and he wanted to get his son admitted under the general category’s sibling quota.

Verification

He also urged the school to shift his elder son to the general category. The copy of the voter ID card submitted by him showed a Safdarjung Enclave address. Suspicious, the school authorities approached the electoral officer to verify the identity card. They were informed that the voter ID card was fake. Mr. Goel was arrested following this revelation.

Under scanner

When officers went to the address given by Mr. Goel in the school documents, the residents told the police they had never met or seen the accused. Role of the lower staff in various government departments has come under scanner following Mr. Goel’s arrest.

Probe revealed that Mr. Goel had used forged income documents, voter ID card and birth certificates for the admission. He had told the school that he was working at an MRI centre. He has been booked under sections of cheating and forgery.

“We have received details of several people who allegedly helped him prepare the forged documents. We are investigating the possibility of a syndicate that helps well-to-do parents get their children admitted to prominent schools under the EWS quota,” added Mr. Verma.