Crime Branch police on Thursday arrested and court forwarded former DI of Schools of Nilgiri Surendranath Sahu in connection with the alleged irregularities in appointment of Gana Shikshaks (GSs) in Baleswar district’s Nilgiri block.

Sahu was taken into custody following a raid conducted in his native residence in Kaptipada of Mayurbhanj district. He was produced in the Nilgiri court and later sent to jail as his bail petition was rejected, police said.

Way back in 2007-08, it was alleged some Gana Shikshaks were given appointments on production of fake certificates and a racket was working for the purpose.

The racket included secretary of ‘Ralishan’, an NGO, Maheswar Patra, Nilgiri BRCC Madhabananda Das, Oupada BRCC Purnachandra Barik and Nilgiri DI of schools Sahu.

Earlier, Patra and BRCC Das were arrested in January. Barik is still at large.

The Government had decided to appoint teachers under its Education Guarantee Scheme (EGS) in 2007. While some schools were being directly run by the School and Mass Education Department, some others were being managed by NGOs then.

The Ralishan, which had 79 schools under it, had recommended some fake names for appointment as GSs. As complaints were lodged from different quarters, the department had ordered for Crime Branch inquiry. During the inquiry it was found that at least six GSs were appointed illegally. The six teachers were working as teachers in schools run by the NGO.

“During the probe it was found that six appointments were made by forging the experience certificates. With Sahu, three have been arrested in the case. Fourth accused Purnachandra  Barik is  absconding “ said Crime Branch DSP Bijay Kumar Mallick.