Major Educational Institution Operator Arrested in Maharashtra ID Scam

Arrest in Alleged ID Fraud Case

Mumbai/Nashik, July 28 – A prominent operator of an educational institution linked to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been apprehended in connection with the alleged 'Shalarth ID' scam in Jalgaon district, Maharashtra. This scam involves creating fake identities for teachers on a government portal to draw salaries fraudulently. The Nashik police confirmed on Tuesday that Sanjay Garud, who manages several educational institutions, was arrested in the town of Natepute in Solapur district.

Details of the Investigation

An official reported that a case has been registered against the 67-year-old Garud at the Nashik Road police station. Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Sandeep Mitke stated that over 150 fake profiles of teachers were created, falsely associating them with an educational institution run by Garud. He further elaborated that the investigation has revealed the involvement of more than 200 schools, with 1,200 suspects identified, and five individuals already arrested.

Political Reactions

Just a day prior, senior BJP leader and state cabinet minister Girish Mahajan mentioned that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) would expose all individuals involved in this alleged scam. Garud is a resident of the Jamner tehsil in Jalgaon district, which is Mahajan's constituency, and he operates multiple educational institutions.

Garud's Political Shift

In January 2024, Garud switched from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) to the BJP. When asked about Garud's arrest, Mahajan stated that he did not have further information on the matter.