12 corporators, who have their caste certificate cases pending, certain to lose posts if court verdict goes against them.
Stringent measures taken by the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) against corporators who have submitted fake caste certificates have borne fruit. Last week, with the immediate suspension of Mohammed Qureshi (Corporator, Congress), who had submitted a fake OBC caste certificate, alarm bells have started ringing among other corporators as well.
Ramnath Sonawane, Commissioner, KDMC, who had taken this action, while speaking to the ADC, said that similar actions are due against other corporators to be found guilty of the same. “Qureshi was found guilty by the court and was due to suffer the suspension. There are 12 corporators who have cases lodged against them, challenging their caste certificate authenticity. These cases have been registered not only in the Kalyan court but also in the Bombay High Court. If the verdict of these cases goes against the corporators, they will be facing suspension,” said Sonawane.
Speaking to the ADC, a corporator whose case is still under investigation shared his opinion, requesting anonymity. “The suspension of Qureshi has set the cat among the pigeons. Most of us are now awaiting the court’s verdict as, in case we lose the case, we will surely lose our post as corporators as well. The commissioner has been very strict with the entire investigation and we fear the worst,” said the corporator.
Last month, Sonawane had asked 700 employees of the civic body, who had secured jobs under the reserved caste category, to submit their caste certificates. “The action was taken by me as three employees were caught for submitting fake caste certificates two weeks back. All the 700 submitted caste certificates will now be crossed-checked by a scrutiny committee, which will re-confirm the authenticity of the certificates with the district collector’s office,” revealed Sonawane.