Campus Times | Lucknow 

The Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Sanskrit Shiksha Parishad has cancelled the educational records of Rajneesh Yadav, who topped the state in the 2026 Uttar Madhyama examination with 89.36 per cent, following a departmental inquiry into alleged discrepancies and forgery in his documents.

The authorities have also ordered the recovery of the honours awarded to him under the meritorious student programme, including ₹1 lakh in cash, a tablet, a medal and a certificate.

Yadav, a student of Shri Ram Tahel Sanskrit Higher Secondary School in Yadunathpur Saifabad, Pratapgarh, had secured the top position in the Uttar Madhyama examination—equivalent to Class 12—whose results were announced on April 24.

The action followed a complaint by Jagat Yadav, a resident of a neighbouring family, who alleged inconsistencies in the students identity and date of birth across official records.

According to the complaint and findings cited in the departmental inquiry, earlier records allegedly identified the student as Ajay Kumar, with a date of birth of May 13, 1998. Later documents, including Aadhaar-related records, allegedly carried the name Rajneesh Yadav and a different date of birth—July 1, 2010.

The complaint alleged that the revised documents were subsequently used to secure admission to the Sanskrit school and enable the student to appear in the Sanskrit Board examinations.

Earlier examination record also under scrutiny

The inquiry reportedly found that the student had previously appeared for a High School examination from a school in Jaunpur under the name Ajay Kumar but had failed. Investigators subsequently examined whether changes in his identity and other documents were made before his admission to the Sanskrit institution.

An FIR was also registered at Aspur Devsara police station over allegations including cheating, forgery and fabrication of documents.

Following the complaint, Pratapgarh District Inspector of Schools Omkar Rana constituted a departmental inquiry team comprising the principals of Government Higher Secondary School, Rasulpur, and Government Higher Secondary School, Sarai Ananddev. The team examined records obtained from the Sanskrit school along with other documentary evidence.

The latest action stems from an August 10, 2026, order issued by Pratap Singh Baghel, Chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Sanskrit Shiksha Parishad and Director of Secondary Education. The order, based on the inquiry report and records examined during the proceedings, states that Yadav allegedly passed examinations from Purva Madhyama through Uttar Madhyama on the basis of forged documents.

As per the order, the academic records connected with these examinations have been cancelled and the benefits received under the meritorious student programme are to be recovered.

District Inspector of Schools Omkar Rana said the decision was taken on the basis of documentary evidence that emerged during the departmental inquiry.

The case has also brought renewed attention to the document-verification process at the time of admission and the mechanisms used to authenticate student records during Sanskrit Board examinations. Questions are likely to be raised over how discrepancies in identity, age and previous academic records were not detected before the student appeared for the examination and received state-level recognition.