EWS fake certificate scam kingpin arrested

After the arrest of the kingpin of one of the modules of the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) fake certificate scam, the Delhi Police are likely to grill the top brass, including chairman and principal of the schools, whose names have cropped up in the probe. The names include that of one retired 

Deputy Director of Education Department.

On Friday morning, Punita, the woman kingpin of the racket, surrendered before the Rohini court, after her daughter’s arrest. “It has been learnt that so far, <g data-gr-id="35">Punita</g> has managed to get over 50 admissions under the EWS category. In many cases, she has used fake documents to get an original EWS certificate,” a police officer said.

<g data-gr-id="43">Punita</g> alleged that the retired Deputy Director of the Education Department helped her candidates get admission at several prominent schools in the national  Capital such as Lancer Convent School, Rohini; Venkateshwar Global School, Rohini; Delhi International School, Rohini and Dwarka; Bal Bharati Public School, Pitampura; VSPK Rohini; Vikas Bharti School, Rohini; Mont Fort School Ashok Vihar; Max Fort School, Rohini; Heritage School; Apeejay School, Rohini; Rukmini Devi Public School, Pitampura; and Ryan International, Rohini.

She told the police that she got the idea of the scam, after she got her sister’s children admitted under the EWS quota. She alleged that she came in contact with the retired Deputy Director of the Education Department through one Ashok.

Sources said Punita had alleged that chairmen and principals of many prominent schools helped her candidates get admissions using fake certificates. “We are yet to identify the people whom <g data-gr-id="30">Punita</g> has mentioned. So far, she has not disclosed any name,” a senior police official said.

After <g data-gr-id="32">arrest</g>, the police took her to her residences in Dwarka and Sonepat from where documents related to the EWS scam were recovered. She told the police that since the EWS scam came into light, she, along with her family, was staying at different hotels in Delhi-NCR. 

Punita’s family, including her husband and daughter, are allegedly involved in running the racket to earn a handsome money. Her husband, Prince, is still at large, police said. <g data-gr-id="37">Punita</g> used to charge Rs 2-10 lakh per admission, depending on the client (parents). She told the police that the gang has a strong network among employees in different schools and Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) offices across the city. The Delhi Police Crime Branch has so far arrested seven persons, including <g data-gr-id="38">Punita</g>, in connection with the EWS fake scam. The case was registered in March.