Pune, A chemistry professor of a Pune-based school has been arrested for allegedly forging a letter claiming he was chosen for a prestigious science award instituted by the Ministry of Science and Technology, police stated on Monday.
Virendra Singh Yadav, an affiliate professor from a school in Wagholi, was arrested on Sunday underneath sections 318 (4) (dishonest), 336 (forgery) and different related sections of Bharashtiya Nyaya Sanhita, an official stated.
According to a grievance by a safety officer from the National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), the ministry just lately got here throughout a letter stating that affiliate professor Yadav from a school in Wagholi had been chosen for the 2025-26 Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award.
In 2022, the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award was renamed as Rashtriya Vigyan Puraskar, one of many highest recognitions within the area of science, know-how, and innovation.
“During scrutiny, CSIR-HRDC officials found a forged signature of the Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Science & Technology in the letter. A probe also revealed that no one had been selected for the said science award for 2025-26,” the grievance acknowledged.
The NCL was instructed to conduct a verification, following which a staff visited Yadav on the school and came upon that he had allegedly solid the letter to acquire a better place within the area of science, police stated.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 4) Somay Munde stated, “Yadav forged a letter claiming he has been selected for the award, and he also forged the signature of Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Science & Technology Jitendra Singh.”
“We are investigating further in the case. We are also probing if there are any other individuals involved in the case, ” he stated.
Sub-inspector Sandip Karpe, the investigating officer within the case, stated Yadav has been remanded to police custody until September 26.