Cyber's Probe Delay in Edu Scam Attributed to 75,000 IP Addresses

Nagpur: The cyber sleuths investigating the recruitment and financial scam that rocked the state education department recently appear to be hitting a roadblock. Sources revealed that the cyber cell is grappling with the daunting task of scrutinizing over 75,000 IP addresses allegedly used to generate fake Shalarth IDs from the office of the deputy director of education.

The cyber cell had earlier secured a production warrant for deputy director Ulhas Narad and clerk Suraj Naik, both of whom are already in custody. The duo is scheduled to be produced before the court on Saturday. However, despite the arrests, the cyber investigation has made little progress.

While Sadar police have arrested six individuals in connection with the scam, including Narad and Naik, cybercrime investigators are still struggling to trace the hackers who likely gained unauthorized access to official computers in the deputy director's office. These computers were reportedly used to create and forward fake Shalarth ID drafts to various schools.

A senior official stated that the cyber police had requested logs from the internet service provider to help identify those who accessed the official systems. In response, a massive data dump was provided, which investigators are currently working to analyze.

"We have managed to reduce the data set to fewer than 50,000 IP addresses. We are now focusing on identifying the specific time window during which the hacking likely occurred," the official said, adding, "At this stage, the deputy director is claiming that the fraud may have originated from his office, but he denies any involvement."

The scam has already caused significant losses to the state exchequer due to illegal disbursal of salaries and benefits to fake teachers. Several other officials, including those from the salary disbursal and provident fund wings, are now under the radar of the cyber cell.

Sources added that investigators plan to examine computers in the offices of the salary superintendent and other related departments as part of the probe.

Meanwhile, in a related case registered at Sadar police station, the court has remanded arrested teacher Mahendra Mhaiskar to custody until April 21. Mhaiskar, who was serving at a school in Arjuni Morgaon, Gondia, allegedly assisted Bhandara-based headmaster Parag Pudke — currently lodged in the central jail — in forging fake experience certificates.

Sadar police have also conducted searches at multiple locations in Bhandara and Gondia, including some offices of the education department. Sources suggest more arrests are likely as the investigation continues to reveal the widespread nature of the scam.

Nagpur: The cyber sleuths investigating the recruitment and financial scam that rocked the state education department recently appear to be hitting a roadblock. Sources revealed that the cyber cell is grappling with the daunting task of scrutinizing over 75,000 IP addresses allegedly used to generate fake Shalarth IDs from the office of the deputy director of education.

The cyber cell had earlier secured a production warrant for deputy director Ulhas Narad and clerk Suraj Naik, both of whom are already in custody. The duo is scheduled to be produced before the court on Saturday. However, despite the arrests, the cyber investigation has made little progress.

While Sadar police have arrested six individuals in connection with the scam, including Narad and Naik, cybercrime investigators are still struggling to trace the hackers who likely gained unauthorized access to official computers in the deputy director's office. These computers were reportedly used to create and forward fake Shalarth ID drafts to various schools.

A senior official stated that the cyber police had requested logs from the internet service provider to help identify those who accessed the official systems. In response, a massive data dump was provided, which investigators are currently working to analyze.

"We have managed to reduce the data set to fewer than 50,000 IP addresses. We are now focusing on identifying the specific time window during which the hacking likely occurred," the official said, adding, "At this stage, the deputy director is claiming that the fraud may have originated from his office, but he denies any involvement."

The scam has already caused significant losses to the state exchequer due to illegal disbursal of salaries and benefits to fake teachers. Several other officials, including those from the salary disbursal and provident fund wings, are now under the radar of the cyber cell.

Sources added that investigators plan to examine computers in the offices of the salary superintendent and other related departments as part of the probe.

Meanwhile, in a related case registered at Sadar police station, the court has remanded arrested teacher Mahendra Mhaiskar to custody until April 21. Mhaiskar, who was serving at a school in Arjuni Morgaon, Gondia, allegedly assisted Bhandara-based headmaster Parag Pudke — currently lodged in the central jail — in forging fake experience certificates.

Sadar police have also conducted searches at multiple locations in Bhandara and Gondia, including some offices of the education department. Sources suggest more arrests are likely as the investigation continues to reveal the widespread nature of the scam.