Shocking Revelation: Pune Professor Arrested for Forging Union Minister's Signature to Claim Prestigious Award

In a deeply troubling incident that has sent ripples through the academic community, a Pune-based professor has been apprehended by authorities for an elaborate scheme involving the forgery of a Union Minister's signature. Dr. Milind S. Narkhede, a faculty member at the DY Patil College of Engineering in Akurdi, stands accused of fabricating an official letter, purportedly from Union Minister Nitin Gadkari’s office, to announce a prestigious 'Lifetime Achievement in Education' award for himself.

The audacious deception came to light when Narkhede allegedly circulated this forged letter across various platforms.

The fabricated document grandly stated that he was to be honored with the coveted award, with the presentation ceremony to be conducted by none other than President Droupadi Murmu. Such a high-profile announcement, seemingly originating from a Union Minister’s office, naturally caught the attention of many.

However, the sophisticated facade soon began to crumble under scrutiny.

The administration at DY Patil College of Engineering, led by Dean Dr. Sunil B. Sawant, harbored immediate suspicions regarding the authenticity of the letter. Several red flags were noted, including unusual formatting within the document and the highly unorthodox nature of a direct announcement of a major national award to one of their faculty members without prior official communication or established protocol.

Acting swiftly on their doubts, the college administration initiated a verification process.

They reached out directly to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari's office to confirm the letter's legitimacy. The response was definitive and damning: Gadkari's office unequivocally confirmed that no such letter had been issued, and the signature was a complete fabrication. This discovery turned what was initially a suspicion into a clear case of fraud.

Following the confirmation of the forgery, a First Information Report (FIR) was promptly lodged against Dr.

Milind S. Narkhede. Police acted swiftly, leading to his arrest. During interrogation, Narkhede reportedly confessed to his audacious act of forgery, admitting to the creation and dissemination of the fake document. The incident underscores a grave breach of academic integrity and professional ethics, raising serious questions about the motivations behind such a calculated deception.

Authorities are continuing their investigation into the full extent of Narkhede's activities and whether there were any accomplices or other instances of similar fraudulent behavior.

The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance and due diligence in verifying information, particularly when it pertains to official communications and high-level accolades.