UP Sanskrit Board Strips Topper's Title Over Forged Documents

The result and educational records of Rajneesh Yadav, who topped the Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Sanskrit Shiksha Parishad's Uttar Madhyama examination in 2026, have been ordered cancelled following a departmental inquiry into alleged discrepancies in his identity and educational documents. Yadav had scored 89.36 per cent in the examination, equivalent to Class 12, and was declared the state topper. Authorities have also ordered the recovery of the awards and recognition he received after securing the top position.

The Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Sanskrit Shiksha Parishad announced the examination results on April 24, 2026. Yadav, a student of Shri Ram Tahel Sanskrit Higher Secondary School in Yadunathpur Saifabad, Pratapgarh, secured the highest marks in the state. As part of the meritorious student honour programme, he received a cash award of Rs 1 lakh along with a tablet, medal and certificate. Following the inquiry, authorities have directed that all these benefits be recovered.

The matter came to light after Jagat Yadav, a member of a neighbouring family, filed a complaint alleging inconsistencies in the student's identity records. According to the complaint, earlier documents, including educational records, a ration card and electoral roll, carried the name Ajay Kumar and showed the date of birth as May 13, 1998. The complaint alleged that the name was subsequently changed to Rajneesh Yadav and the date of birth to July 1, 2010, in his Aadhaar card and other documents.

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The allegations led to the registration of an FIR at Aspur Devsara police station over alleged cheating, forgery and fabrication of documents. Following the complaint, Pratapgarh District Inspector of Schools Omkar Rana formed a team to investigate the matter. The inquiry was jointly conducted by the principals of Government Higher Secondary School, Rasulpur, and Government Higher Secondary School, Sarai Ananddev, while records from the Sanskrit school where Yadav studied were also examined.

According to the inquiry findings, Yadav had allegedly appeared for a High School examination from a school in Jaunpur under the name Ajay Kumar and had failed. The investigation alleged that changes were subsequently made to his identity documents before he obtained admission to the Sanskrit school and appeared for the Sanskrit Board examinations. Authorities concluded that the records used for examinations from Purva Madhyama to Uttar Madhyama were allegedly based on forged documents, leading to the decision to cancel the educational records.

The latest action follows an order issued on August 10 by Pratap Singh Baghel, Chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Sanskrit Shiksha Parishad and Director of Secondary Education. The order was based on the departmental inquiry and documentary evidence examined during the investigation. District Inspector of Schools Omkar Rana said the order directs cancellation of Yadav's educational records and recovery of the Rs 1 lakh cash award, tablet, medal and certificate. The case has also raised concerns over document verification during school admissions and the mechanisms used to verify candidates appearing in board examinations.

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