FIR against terminated sarpanch for using fake Class-10 certificate

The police have registered an FIR against terminated sarpanch Shyam Singh of Balauli village for allegedly using a fake qualification certificate to contest the panchayat election.

Acting on a complaint by Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO) Kartik Chouhan, the Chhachhruli police have booked Shyam Singh under Sections 420, 467, 468 and 471 of the IPC.

According to official sources, the then Deputy Commissioner of Yamunanagar had ordered Shyam Singh’s termination from the post of sarpanch under Section 51(3) of the Haryana Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, on April 20, 2023, after finding his educational qualification certificate to be forged.

Shyam Singh later challenged the DC’s decision before Ambala Division Commissioner PC Meena, but the appeal was dismissed on January 14, 2025, upholding his termination.

“Action has been taken against Shyam Singh as he was found guilty of using a fake certificate to contest election,” BDPO Kartik Chouhan said in his complaint.

However, the former sarpanch has denied all allegations, claiming that his certificate is genuine.

“My certificate of Class-10, which was supported with documents to contest election for the post of sarpanch, is absolutely genuine. Some people of the village are making fake complaints against me due to party politics. I have challenged the decision of the Commissioner in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, and the case is sub judice,” said Shyam Singh.

He added that the FIR was based on false contents and expressed confidence that the charges would not stand in court.