Para-swimmer issued resident certificate fraudulently: RTI

Tribune News Service

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Karnal, November 10

International para-swimmer Swapnil Sanjay Patil, who won bronze in the Asian Para Games 2018, got Haryana resident certificate ‘fraudulently’. Neither he nor his family members have been residents of Karnal for 15 or more years, which is a mandatory requirement for this certificate.

Moreover, he had applied for grant of cash award under the policy of the Sports and Youth Affairs Department after winning the medal. This was revealed in response to an RTI application filed by RTI activist PP Kapoor, who has now complained to IGP, Karnal Range and SP, Karnal, demanding action against the officials involved in issuance of fake documents.

The reply also revealed the swimmer managed to get a birth certificate issued from Karnal and a ration card from the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department Karnal. As per the record provided in the RTI, the ration card was issued while he was not born. His birth certificate was issued on February 22, 1998, showing his date of birth as January 6, 1998, while his ration card was issued on July 6, 1995. Moreover, he has a passport, in which his address is of Kolhapur in Maharashtra.

“I have sought information from different departments regarding issuance of Haryana resident certificate to Swapnil Sanjay Patil,” said Kapoor.

Karnal DC Nishant Kumar Yadav said, “The issue has come to my notice. I will seek a report from the SP and get it inquired by an independent officer.”

Swapnil could not be contacted for his comment.