Major Fraud Uncovered in Nagaon Schools Over SEBA and DISE Codes

Fraudulent Activities in Nagaon Education Sector

Nagaon, June 24: A significant scandal has emerged involving the unauthorized issuance of SEBA and DISE codes to private educational institutions at the Nagaon Circle's Inspector of Schools office, sparking widespread controversy.

Reports indicate that a powerful network within the office has allegedly been granting SEBA and DISE codes to numerous private schools in exchange for substantial payments, circumventing essential documentation such as prior approvals and registrations from the Department of Secondary Education. This fraudulent operation is believed to have been ongoing since the 2024-2025 academic year.

The situation escalated when RC Jain, the chairman of the State Education Council, expressed serious concerns regarding these irregularities and mandated a comprehensive investigation. In response, Inspector of Schools Mridul Kumar Nath has been accused of attempting to conceal the issue by merely requesting an explanation from Computer Assistant Mridu Plaban Das (EDP), raising suspicions of a broader cover-up.

Additional allegations have surfaced against other staff members who are purportedly part of this network. Sources suggest that numerous educational institutions in the district have unlawfully acquired DISE codes, while between 10 to 20 schools managed to obtain SEBA codes through manipulation of the departmental processes.

Officials are said to have ignored the forged documents submitted by private schools for necessary permissions and registrations. Despite being tasked with conducting physical verifications and submitting reports via a secure portal, the Inspector of Schools has claimed ignorance, further intensifying doubts about the situation.

The Secretary of the Department of Higher Education and the Director of Secondary Education have summoned Mridul Kumar Nath multiple times, instructing him to provide a detailed report on the ongoing investigation.

Moreover, allegations have emerged regarding the collection of monthly commissions from the midday meal schemes of 46 schools managed by headmasters in the district, with the Inspector of Schools allegedly involved. Nath, however, has asserted that the fraud was executed using a digitally stored signature on the office computer, attempting to distance himself from the wrongdoing.

During a press conference today, Mridul Kumar Nath acknowledged that irregularities have been identified in seven schools thus far and confirmed that the fraudulent activities have been occurring since 2024-2025. The schools implicated in operating with counterfeit documents include AR Public School, BK Markaz Academy, Educare Senior Secondary School, Gyanam Secondary Academy, Kanaka Academy, Neptune Senior Secondary School, Saraswati Academy, and Sunrise Modern Academy.

Nath mentioned that an explanation has been requested from Computer Assistant Mridu Plaban Das due to suspicions, and the investigation is still in progress. He also noted that the Planning Department manages DISE code-related tasks, but the Planning Officer present at the press conference seemed to receive a subtle defense from Nath.

The true orchestrators behind this scam remain unidentified, and the subsequent actions of the Education Department are being closely monitored.