Bengal: CBI Conducts Searches At 8 Locations Over CAPF Recruitment On Forged Documents

The CBI took over the probe last August on the directions of the Calcutta High Court to look into the allegations that several candidates were recruited illegally in the armed forces and the CAPFs.

New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted searches at eight locations in Kolkata and the North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal on Saturday. The operation was part of an ongoing probe into the alleged forging of domicile documents during the recruitment for the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs). 

As per PTI, the investigation, initiated on the orders of the Calcutta High Court in August, to look into the allegations that several candidates were recruited illegally in the armed forces and the CAPFs via forged domicile certificates purportedly showing them to be from border areas, thus getting through at lower cut-off marks. Some Pakistani nationals also benefitted from the irregularities.

"The searches on Saturday were conducted on the premises of racketeers who were allegedly involved in creating forged domicile certificates", officials said, as per PTI.

Upon initial examination, Justice Jay Sengupta, who is overseeing the case, stated that no irregularities were detected in armed forces recruitment. However, the preliminary inquiry revealed four instances of irregularities in the recruitment process of the Central Para Military Forces (CAPF).

"West Bengal, being a border state, allows lower cut-off marks in the examinations for employment in the Central Para Military Forces", the Judge said, as quoted by PTI.

The alleged fraudulent activities involved the production of forged domicile certificates, matriculation certificates, and caste certificates. Candidates reportedly used these fabricated documents to falsely establish residency in West Bengal, gaining an unfair advantage in CAPF recruitments.

Justice Jay Sengupta emphasised the need for an in-depth investigation to determine whether foreign nationals, including Pakistani individuals, utilised similar methods to seek employment within the Indian forces.