Team Herald
PANJIM: The Crime Branch of Goa Police on Wednesday arrested five persons for selling bogus educational certificates to government job aspirants.
The accused have been identified as Bindi Parab, 34, from Cumbarjua, Bhavesh Haldankar, 33, from Chorao, Niraj Gawade, 31, from Bicholim, Vishnudas Bhomkar, 42, from Carambolim and Yeshwant Kholkar, 37, from Taleigao.
According to the police, Bindi Parab allegedly issued 15 to 20 certificates. She confessed that Bhavesh Haldankar was an agent working on behalf of Violet Khandepal of Grace Education, Patto, Panjim. Niraj Gawade would obtain fake certificates of IGNOU (The Indira Gandhi National Open University) from Parab, while Vishnudas Bhomkar would procure fake certificates for NIOS (The National Institute of Open Schooling).
During the investigation, Bindi Parab confessed to having issued certificates for various institutions, with payments varying based on the category of certificate – for instance, a fake 10th or 12th standard certificate would fetch Rs 25,000 to Rs 35,000, while the going rate for a graduation certificate was between Rs 55,000 and Rs 1,35,000.
The payment was made through UPI or cash, police said. A Crime Branch official told O Heraldo,” We received the tip-off and conducted an inquiry. When we realised that it was really happening, we registered an FIR and arrested the suspect.”
An offence under section 336 (3) read with 3(5) (6) of BNS 2023 has been registered and the case is being investigated by PI Dattaram Raut.