Archive · 16 Sep 2026
Pune Probe Finds Widespread Anomalies in Kurash Certificates
Pune police are investigating certificates that may have been falsely issued for Kurash competitions.
Some people allegedly used these certificates to get government jobs through a sports quota.
Investigators found men listed as winners in women’s events.
They also found a person weighing under 60 kilograms listed in a 90-kilogram competition.
Some documents used district names that did not exist at the time of the supposed events.
Other records had signatures from officials who took office years later.
Police say some competitions may have existed only on paper.
Four people have been arrested so far.
The investigation is checking whether candidates, intermediaries or officials helped use the documents.
Pune police found alleged fake Kurash certificates containing gender, weight, district-name and signature discrepancies.
Male names appeared among winners in women’s categories, while a person under 60 kilograms was listed in a 90-kilogram category.
Documents used names such as Dharashiv and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar before those districts were officially renamed.
Police allege some competitions were never held and that state-level certificates were issued without genuine events.
Four people have been arrested as 71 government recruits and about 1,500 certificates face scrutiny.
- Who
- Pune police, including a Special Investigation Team, are investigating four arrested suspects and candidates who allegedly used Kurash certificates for government recruitment.
- What
- Police uncovered alleged forged or irregular Kurash certificates, competition records and participation lists linked to sports-quota applications.
- When
- The certificates under scrutiny are dated from 2016 to 2023; the investigation began after police received confidential information, and four arrests have been made so far.
- Where
- The investigation is being led by Pune police and has statewide links, with raids conducted in at least four districts.
- Why
- The certificates were allegedly used to claim the five per cent sports quota in government recruitment.
- Arrests
- Four people have been arrested, including Shivaji Jaywant Salunkhe, Ankush Vitthal Nagar, Dhairyasheel Pungaonkar and Shruti Pungaonkar.
- Certificates under scrutiny
- About 1,500 Kurash certificates dated between 2016 and 2023 were allegedly distributed through the racket.
- Government recruits under investigation
- Seventy-one candidates recruited since 2023 to the Maharashtra Police and other government departments are under scrutiny.
- Main anomalies
- Records include male winners in women’s categories, incorrect weight categories, outdated district names and signatures from later office-bearers.
- District-name issue
- Dharashiv was officially known as Osmanabad until September 15, 2023, while Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar was previously known as Aurangabad.
- Investigative body
- A Special Investigation Team has been formed, and raids have taken place in at least four districts.