Recruitment Scam Shocker: Deputy Education Director Suspended in ₹2,000 Crore Alleged Admission and Hiring Fraud

Mumbai, July 11:

In a major development that has sent shockwaves through the state’s education system, Maharashtra’s School Education Minister Dada Bhuse on Thursday announced the suspension of Sandeep Sangve, the Deputy Director of Education. This comes amid serious allegations of a ₹2,000 crore scam involving college admissions and teacher recruitment in government-aided institutions.

The announcement was made in the Maharashtra Assembly following strong criticism by several MLAs, particularly from the BJP, who accused senior officials in the education department of facilitating fake recruitments and manipulating student admissions.

Fake Teachers, Bogus Admissions: Scam Details Emerge
 

The alleged scam revolves around two main issues:

• Recruitment of teachers with fake credentials, and
• Forcing top junior colleges to admit ineligible students through threats and manipulation.
   

According to BJP MLA Sanjay Upadhyay, the now-suspended officer Sandeep Sangve was at the heart of the racket. He accused Sangve of creating fake employee IDs on the state’s Shalarth Portal, the official government payroll system, to help unqualified individuals draw government salaries as teachers. “He has allegedly recruited dozens of such teachers in aided schools by inserting back-dated entries in official records,” Upadhyay said.

Upadhyay demanded Sangve’s immediate suspension, claiming the scam had continued unchecked for years. Responding swiftly, Minister Bhuse announced the officer’s suspension and assured the House that an independent inquiry would follow.

₹1.5 Lakh Per Admission? Racket Involving Officials and Agents
 

The scam goes beyond just hiring. BJP MLA Mihir Kotecha dropped another bombshell, stating that a racket involving officers and agents had been operating to force college managements into admitting ineligible students. Allegedly, agents were collecting up to ₹1.5 lakh per student to secure admissions in top junior colleges.

"Colleges are being blackmailed," Kotecha said. “If they don’t admit the students suggested by these agents, they are threatened with punitive action.” He further warned that if such activities continued, he would publicly name all the officers involved.

Minister Bhuse acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations and ordered an inquiry into the entire recruitment and admission process. “We will not spare anyone found guilty,” he told the Assembly.

Political Reactions and Public Concern

The scam has triggered strong reactions from both the political class and the public. Opposition parties are now demanding a wider investigation into the functioning of the School Education Department, especially the role of senior officials and the misuse of digital systems like Shalarth.

Citizens and education activists have raised concerns over how taxpayer money is being misused to pay fake teachers, while deserving candidates struggle for jobs and students are denied fair admissions.

What Happens Next?

With the suspension of Sandeep Sangve and a formal inquiry now underway, the spotlight is firmly on the education department. Minister Bhuse has promised strict action and a complete clean-up of the system.

Meanwhile, education experts are calling for systemic reforms, including stronger checks in digital payroll platforms, transparent teacher recruitment processes, and greater oversight on junior college admissions.

As the investigation progresses, more names are expected to surface. The coming weeks may reveal the true scale of the scam—and determine whether justice will be delivered in one of Maharashtra’s largest recruitment frauds in recent memory.