Panaji police have registered two FIRs against Taleigao resident Ajit Shankhwalkar after forged appointment letters allegedly linked to government jobs surfaced at the excise department in Goa, according to a report by the Times of India.
The case came to light when Manoj Talekar visited the Panaji excise office claiming that he had been appointed as an additional excise commissioner. Talekar carried an appointment letter that he had received from Shankhwalkar. Excise department staff identified that Talekar was not the newly appointed official, after which an initial police inquiry found that the letter was forged.
Sanket Sakhardande, assistant commissioner of excise, filed a complaint alleging that Shankhwalkar created forged documents and issued them in the name of Ashvin Chandru A, commissioner of excise. The documents were dated September 24, although the report does not specify the year associated with the date.
A second complaint was filed by Govind Talekar, Manoj’s father. The complaint alleges that Shankhwalkar promised government jobs to Manoj and Manisha and collected Rs 27 lakh and Rs 25 lakh from them, respectively. The report states that forged appointment letters were supplied, including one for the post of deputy director of accounts.
The two FIRs cover allegations of cheating and forgery. The first complaint relates to documents purportedly issued in the name of the excise commissioner, while the second concerns the alleged collection of money in return for government employment and the supply of appointment letters.
The episode has exposed how forged government documents can be used to present private promises of employment as official appointments. The excise department’s identification of the false appointment claim led to the police inquiry and the subsequent complaints, according to the report.
The allegations remain subject to investigation. The available report does not state whether Shankhwalkar has been arrested, whether the money has been recovered, or whether other individuals are being questioned. It also does not provide a response from Shankhwalkar to the allegations. Police action and further investigation will determine the next steps in the case.
