Water Resources Department Scam: Fake Certificates Used for Hiring

BENGALURU, India (AP) — Allegations of fraud have emerged within Karnataka's Water Resources Department, with claims that candidates used fake certificates to secure positions in a recent recruitment drive.

In October 2022, the department announced direct recruitment for second-grade assistant positions in the "C" cadre to address a backlog. The recruitment was based on academic qualifications from the second PU (Pre-University) level, without any formal examination. A new provisional selection list for 182 candidates was released on June 27 of this year.

However, concerns have been raised that 62 of these selected candidates submitted fraudulent certificates. Reports indicate that these candidates altered the registration numbers on their certificates to match those of higher-scoring individuals, enabling them to secure positions fraudulently.

The issue came to light when the Sheshadripuram Police Station registered a case following an investigation. The Central Crime Branch (CCB) has issued a notice to Ravikumar from Shapaur village, who allegedly provided these fake certificates. Ravikumar, who failed his PU exams, is accused of using the registration numbers of successful candidates to obtain employment.

Mallikarjuna Kurukundi, a distressed candidate, highlighted the irregularities, stating that the reserved positions for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes were filled with candidates who did not have the appropriate academic credentials. Kurukundi and others were shocked to see that the final list included candidates with improbably high marks.

"The department seems to have ignored the fraudulent activities," Kurukundi said. "We have raised concerns about how candidates from different communities, who were not eligible, managed to secure these positions."

The Water Resources Department now faces scrutiny over its recruitment process, with calls for a thorough investigation into the provisional list. There is speculation that among the 182 selected candidates, a significant number may have used fraudulent means to obtain their positions.

Officials are urged to address the issues and ensure that the selection process is transparent and just.