3 weeks ago
Hyderabad Police Probe Racket in Fake Fire NOC Scam
Some private junior colleges in Hyderabad and Secunderabad are in big trouble.
There is a special safety certificate called a Fire NOC that proves a building is safe in case of fire.
Instead of getting real certificates, many colleges bought fake ones.
The fake certificates cost more than five lakh rupees each, which is a lot of money.
Police think a group of people made and sold these fake papers for the past five or six years.
The colleges used them to get permission to keep teaching students.
Officials found that 52 colleges had fake certificates, and they are checking almost 200 more.
Even the signatures of important safety officials were copied onto the fake papers.
The colleges now have to pay fines and get real certificates before they can get permission again.
Police are investigating so that students and teachers stay safe.
Police launched an investigation into 52 private junior colleges for allegedly submitting forged Fire NOCs, with 176 more institutions under verification.
The scam came to light after HYDRAA detected forged Fire NOCs submitted by colleges seeking affiliation from the Telangana Board of Intermediate Education.
A syndicate allegedly charged colleges between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 6 lakh for fake Fire NOCs, a racket believed to have been active for five to six years.
Signatures of senior GHMC, HYDRAA and Fire Department officials were allegedly forged on the fabricated certificates.
Of 142 Fire NOCs submitted by junior colleges in the Telangana Core Urban Region, 90 were genuine and 52 were forged; fines of Rs 1 lakh to Rs 4 lakh were imposed.
- Who
- HYDRAA officials and police, along with private junior colleges in Hyderabad and Secunderabad; Papaiah Varla, Additional Director of HYDRAA, lodged the complaint.
- What
- A probe into a racket where junior colleges allegedly submitted forged Fire No Objection Certificates to obtain affiliation from the Telangana Board of Intermediate Education.
- Where
- Hyderabad and Secunderabad in Telangana, covering colleges in districts including Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, Medchal-Malkajgiri and Sangareddy.
- When
- The investigation is ongoing; HYDRAA handed over a fresh list of 48 more colleges to police on Thursday.
- Why
- Colleges allegedly bypassed fire safety norms to obtain affiliation, with mediators running a well-organised syndicate charging Rs 5 lakh to Rs 6 lakh per fake certificate.
Key facts
- Colleges found with forged NOCs
- 52
- Colleges under verification
- 176
- NOCs submitted in Telangana Core Urban Region
- 142 (90 genuine, 52 forged)
- Cost per fake Fire NOC
- Rs 5 lakh to Rs 6 lakh
- Racket active period
- Five to six years
- Fines imposed on violators
- Rs 1 lakh to Rs 4 lakh
- Case registered against
- Eight private colleges, including one in Sangareddy district
Sources
Related news
Eight Hyderabad Junior Colleges Booked for Forging HYDRAA Chief's Signature
TGBIE Officials Accused of Facilitating Fake Fire NOCs for Colleges
TGBIE probes fake fire NOCs submitted by private colleges
Inter Board Orders Colleges to Strengthen Fire Safety Measures
BRS leader targets government over fake Fire NOC scam
Telangana Board Imposes Penalties on Private Junior Colleges
Telangana to Assign PENs to Intermediate Students from 2026-27
