Chandigarh: Refusing to grant anticipatory bail to a former Associate NCC Officer (ANO) in a case involving alleged forgery and illegal issuance of NCC certificates to ineligible candidates, Punjab and Haryana high court has held that the offence involves public faith in NCC certificates that have implications on employment, admissions and public services.Justice Sumeet Goel was also of the view that such allegations cannot be brushed aside on the ground that no direct pecuniary gain has yet been established.While dismissing the plea filed by Dhiraj Sangwan, former NCC officer of Ahir College Rewari, the court also recorded that custodial interrogation may be necessary to trace the chain of events, identify other beneficiaries, and uncover the modus operandi behind the alleged forgery. Ahir College is one of the oldest pioneering educational institutions in south Haryana.The case is based on an inquiry conducted by Haryana’s vigilance and anti-corruption bureau (ACB) that exposed a well-orchestrated racket involving the illegal issuance of NCC certificates to ineligible individuals, allegedly to secure them unfair advantages in govt jobs and academic admissions.NCC certificates carry significant weightage in public service recruitments at the state and Centre, as well as in admissions to educational institutions. Even the Army runs an NCC special entry scheme.According to ACB findings, multiple NCC ‘B’ certificates were fraudulently issued to individuals who were never students at Ahir College, Rewari, some of whom were allegedly over-aged or studying in different institutions.In one striking instance, a candidate was granted an NCC certificate despite studying at a polytechnic in Hisar, not Ahir College. In another, a cadet was falsely shown as a college professor to justify eligibility.Enrolment forms were forged and verified to make ineligible candidates appear eligible for NCC certification. Some beneficiaries were allegedly close relatives of the then ANO, suggesting conflict of interest and favouritism.The inquiry concluded that the then ANO, Dhiraj Sangwan, and the then principal of Ahir College, Omkar Singh, had misused their official positions by preparing, signing, and verifying false enrolment forms, thereby facilitating illegal issuance of NCC certificates. This vigilance inquiry formed the foundation for registration of an FIR on Sept 9, 2025.The ScamThe inquiry report disclosed NCC certificates, particularly NCC ‘B’, were issued at Ahir College, Rewari, on the basis of forged and fabricated enrolment documents. The inquiry found that false verification was carried out to project ineligible persons as eligible NCC cadets. In some of the examples cited by the inquiry, cadet Sunil (HAR/SD/2010/24092), was shown falsely as an assistant professor in the BCA department from Sept 1, 2010, to April 10, 2012, and cadets Uttam Singh (HAR/SD/2010/24094) and Jasbir Singh (HAR/SD/2010/24096) were found to be close relatives of the then associate NCC officer (ANO). Cadet Hemant (HAR/SD/2010/24109) was granted an NCC certificate despite not being a student at Ahir College. He was actually studying in a polytechnic at Hisar, and his college record was later found missing.
