Fake Kurash Sports Certificates: 19 Pune Police Recruits Face Dismissal
Pune, 16th October 2026: Nineteen people recruited into the Pune city police force under the sports quota using fake certificates in the Kurash sport will be permanently dismissed from service, Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar said.
Of the 19 recruits, 10 had not yet been allowed to join duty, while the remaining nine had been sent to various training centres. Orders have been issued to recall the nine from training. Legal action against the candidates is also likely.
Nineteen organisations that conducted taluka-, district- and state-level Kurash tournaments, along with the people running them, are under the Pune police scanner. The crime branch has collected information about these organisations, and further action against those involved is likely based on the findings of the investigation, senior police officers said.
The investigation revealed that the candidates were not genuine players, but records were fabricated to show them as athletes and secure sports certificates.
The crime branch has arrested four people in connection with the case, including Maharashtra State Kurash Association president Ankush Nagar, secretary Shivaji Salunkhe, and Shruti Pungavankar, who runs a sports training centre, and her husband, Dhairyashil.
The investigation is being conducted by Deputy Commissioner of Police Gauhar Hasan and Assistant Commissioner of Police Shankar Khatke under the guidance of Additional Commissioner of Police Tejaswi Satpute.
