Beed School Headmaster Suspended, Booked for Allegedly Adding Fake Student Entries to U-DISE Portal to Protect Teachers' Jobs
Champawati Primary School headmaster Sarang Joshi (35) has been suspended and booked by Beed Police for allegedly adding three unauthorised student entries to the government's U-DISE portal. An education department inquiry found that the names were absent from the school's original admission register. Investigators suspect the alleged manipulation may have been intended to protect teachers' posts. An FIR was registered at Shivajinagar Police Station on October 15, 2026, and further investigation is underway.
Beed, Maharashtra: The headmaster of Champawati Primary School in Beed has been suspended and booked by police for allegedly manipulating student records on the government's Unified District Information System for Education (U-DISE) portal. The accused reportedly added three student names that were not recorded in the school's original admission register, allegedly to protect teaching positions.
The accused has been identified as Sarang Joshi (35), headmaster of Champawati Primary School. A case was registered against him at Shivajinagar Police Station on October 15, 2026, following an inquiry conducted by the education department.
Education Department Inquiry Reveals Irregularities
The matter came to light after allegations surfaced that student enrolment figures were being manipulated to safeguard teachers' posts.
Following the allegations, Block Education Officer Pranita Gangakhedkar (56) of the Beed Panchayat Samiti formed an inquiry committee along with three cluster heads.
The committee visited Champawati Primary School on October 1 to verify the school's student enrolment and attendance records.
During the inspection, officials found that 973 students were listed as enrolled in Classes 1 to 4, while only 849 students were present that day.
The difference of 124 students prompted further scrutiny of the school's records.
According to the complaint, when the headmaster was asked to explain the discrepancy and provide details of the school's U-DISE entries, he allegedly failed to offer satisfactory clarification.
However, the difference between enrolment and attendance figures alone does not establish that the absent students were fictitious.
Three Student Names Allegedly Added Without Admission Records
The inquiry committee conducted a second inspection at the school on October 9.
During this visit, officials reportedly identified three student names appearing in the records under examination that were not found in the school's original general admission and withdrawal register.
According to the complaint, the headmaster allegedly added these three student entries to the U-DISE portal on September 28.
The inquiry further alleged that the entries were moved to the portal's drop box on October 7.
Education officials suspect that the alleged manipulation was intended to influence student enrolment figures used in determining teaching staff requirements.
The precise motive remains under investigation.
FIR Registered Under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
Following the education department's findings, Block Education Officer Pranita Gangakhedkar lodged a formal complaint with Shivajinagar Police Station in Beed.
Police registered an FIR against Sarang Joshi under the following provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS):
- Section 318(4): Cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property.
- Section 336(3): Forgery for the purpose of cheating.
- Section 340(2): Fraudulent or dishonest use of a forged document or electronic record as genuine.
- Section 335: Making a false document or electronic record.
Senior Police Inspector Sheetalkumar Ballal confirmed that the case was registered based on the complaint received from the education department.
Headmaster Suspended; Detailed Investigation Continues
Zilla Parishad Education Officer Jayashree Chavan confirmed that Sarang Joshi has been suspended following the preliminary findings.
She stated that an initial inquiry report has already been submitted and that a detailed investigation is underway.
The inquiry is expected to examine the authenticity of the disputed student entries, the circumstances in which they were added and subsequently moved on the portal, and whether the alleged changes were intended to influence staffing decisions.
Police are conducting a separate investigation into the allegations mentioned in the FIR.
The case has raised concerns about the accuracy of digital student records used for educational planning and administrative decisions.