Pune police recruitment fraud allegations have led to a decision to remove 19 people recruited to the Pune city police force through the sports quota using allegedly forged kurash certificates, while four people have been arrested in the investigation, according to Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar.
Ten of the 19 candidates had not been allowed to report for duty earlier. The remaining nine, who were undergoing training at different centres, have now been ordered to return, the report said. The candidates may also face legal action in connection with the alleged use of forged documents.
The case centres on Maharashtra’s five per cent reservation for sportspersons in government recruitment. Investigators allege that fake certificates relating to kurash, a martial arts discipline, were prepared to help candidates claim benefits under the quota despite not being eligible sportspersons.
The Pune crime branch has arrested Maharashtra State Kurash Association president Ankush Nagar, secretary Shivaji Salunkhe, and sports training centre operators Shruti Pungavkar and her husband, Dhyansheel Pungavkar. The four have been accused of preparing forged certificates at the training centre, according to the report.
A case has also been registered at the Shivajinagar police station against Parbhani district organiser Kalyan Balasaheb Murkute, Dharashiv district organiser Chandpasha Lalsaheb Sheikh, other district organisers and associated individuals. Senior Police Inspector Deepak Lagad is the complainant. The charges have been registered under Sections 318(4), 338, 336(3), 340(2), 339, 61(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Police allege that the suspected activity took place between 2016 and 2026. The alleged irregularities came to light after an individual submitted an application to the police claiming that 19 candidates had used forged kurash and dragon boat certificates during the Pune city police recruitment process for 2024-26. Documents were also submitted with the complaint.
According to the police account cited in the report, the investigation found that competitions were shown as having taken place even though they had not been conducted. Records were allegedly created for people who were not sportspersons, after which certificates were issued and used to obtain jobs in different government departments.
The inquiry has also expanded beyond the 19 candidates. The crime branch has collected information on 19 organisations involved in organising kurash events at taluka, district and state levels, as well as the people running them. Senior police officers said action against these organisations and individuals would be taken soon.
The case places scrutiny on the verification process for sports-quota recruitment, including the role of sports associations, event records and certificates used by appointing authorities. The Pune police have ordered the return of the nine trainees and said the recruitment-related action will proceed alongside the criminal investigation.
