New Delhi: The central government has started an investigation of 15 civil servants on suspicion of securing its posts using fake or suspected reservation certificates. The Department of Personnel and Training (DOPT) has written to the concerned state governments who request intensive verification of caste, income and disability documents submitted by these officers.
Questions were raised about 22 civil service officers, out of which DOPT selected 15 for verification. The group consists of two IAS officers from Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana, and one -one from Odisha, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Kerala. It includes two IPS officers serving in the Ministry of Home Affairs, an IRS officer in the revenue department and an IFS officer in the Ministry of External Affairs.
An inquiry was ordered after several complaints by Pune -based RTI activist Vijay Kumbar, who highlighted irregularities and lack of proper verification in UPSC sequences. As part of the investigation, most officers were selected between 2015 and 2023. According to the information received by ThePrint, certificates under the investigation are related to categories like OBC, SC, ST, Economically Weaker Section (EWS), and benchmarks disabled person (PWBD).
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The Kumber said, “Someone who was really entitled to that seat is now out because someone else lied on paper.” “This is not just a technical error, it is a violation of the public trust. UPSC and DOPT system must be combined with real -time caste and income database. Right now, there are too many flaws.”
Theprint reached Under Secretary Annashuman Mishra In DOPT via call and email. This report will then be updated if and when the response is obtained.
Talking on the condition of anonymity, however, a DOPT officer confirmed the investigation. “This is an internal investigation. I cannot say much, but the letters have been sent to the concerned states for investigation,” the official said.
DOPT, signed by DOPT, May 5, 2025, and Anunshuman Mishra, requested the state governments and central ministries to verify the reservation certificate-especially income and asset criteria EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, SC, SC, and ST-ST-ST–were included by 15 civil services during the selection.
Letter reference complaints are originally forwarded by UPSC and asks the concerned authorities to certify the documents and report back. This coordinated trick marks a structured and multi-cadre investigation into alleged misuse of alleged misuse of reservation benefits in the country’s top bureaucracy.
The issue was attracted after the case of 2024 probational IAS officer Pooja Khedkar, which was rejected after submitting false OBCs and disability certificates. His case gave rise to resentment and demands for strict verification.
DOPT has said that further disciplinary action against 15 officers will depend on what state-level verification exposes.
In 2024, Kumbhar sent a letter to the President of India and raised these concerns, but he did not get any response. The letter was then sent to UPSC, stating that the matter was not within its jurisdiction and passed it on dopt. The Kumber has filed three separate RTI applications to keep the issue alive.
“I am still not satisfied that action has been taken by the department. This work should be done not by a citizen but by the concerned department. It is very shameful,” Kumbar said.
(Edited by Zininia Ru Chaudhary)
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