One held in Keralam for securing job in panchayat with fake mark list

Representational image.

A former Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) unit secretary was arrested for allegedly securing a contractual job at Puthukkode grama panchayat here by submitting a fake BCom mark list.

The arrested person, K.V. Ganapathy, a native of Puthukkode Kizhakke Gramam, worked as an accountant-cum-IT assistant in the panchayat’s employment guarantee scheme section. The Vadakkenchery police arrested him in connection with the case on Monday.

Mr. Ganapathy joined the panchayat on a contractual basis in July 2021, when the Left Democratic Front (LDF) was in power. He continued in the post until July 2026. He had submitted a BCom mark list purportedly issued by the University of Calicut as proof of his educational qualification.

After the United Democratic Front (UDF) came to power in the last local body elections, the panchayat committee refused to extend his contract. Mr. Ganapathy then approached the High Court and obtained an order allowing him to continue in the post until September 2026.

The alleged fraud came to light during the verification process for his reinstatement. The new panchayat administration became suspicious because Mr. Ganapathy had submitted only a mark list, rather than an original or provisional degree certificate, to prove his qualification.

Growing suspicious, the panchayat authorities sent the mark list to the University of Calicut for verification. The university informed them that the document was fake and that Mr. Ganapathy had not passed the BCom degree.