The prime accused in the fake Shalarth ID scam and Pay Unit Superintendent, Nilesh Waghmare, was arrested by the Cyber Police from his residence in Dharampeth. Waghmare had been absconding for the past four months. Just two days ago, the High Court had rejected his anticipatory bail plea. Investigations have revealed that Waghmare amassed property worth crores of rupees through the scam.
Since 2019, schools and educational institutions in Nagpur district were issued Shalarth IDs in violation of regulations. This enabled ineligible teaching and non-teaching staff to receive salaries from government funds. Between 2019 and 2025, the state exchequer suffered losses amounting to several crores of rupees. Following the exposure of the scam, Waghmare was suspended from his post, but had managed to evade arrest until now.
The case began with a complaint filed by Ravindra Patil, an employee at the Nagpur Divisional Deputy Director’s Office, on the instructions of divisional deputy director Ulhas Narad, who is currently in custody. A committee, headed by Divisional School Board Chairman Chintaman Wanjari, was set up to probe the matter. Their report stated that over 580 teaching and non-teaching staff members were issued Shalarth IDs without proper verification. Upon the government’s notice, Waghmare was suspended until further orders.
On Thursday afternoon, police received a tip-off that Waghmare was in Dharampeth. A team led by Senior Police Inspector Baliram Sutar conducted a raid and apprehended him. He was produced before the Judicial Magistrate First Class, who remanded him to police custody until August 19.
According to police sources, while serving as Pay Unit Superintendent, Waghmare amassed substantial wealth. It has also come to light that he owns two resorts in Goa.
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