Bhopal: The Police Headquarters’ Vigilance Branch in Madhya Pradesh has registered an FIR against retired IPS officer Raghuveer Singh Meena and others in connection with allegations surrounding a Scheduled Tribe (ST) caste certificate used during his entry into the police service.
The case follows a complaint by Guna resident Harvir Singh Raghuvanshi and an earlier scrutiny of an ST certificate issued in Vidisha in 1984. A high-level scrutiny committee subsequently declared the certificate invalid. The Vigilance Branch is now investigating the certificate’s issuance, its alleged use and the circumstances surrounding the benefits obtained from it.
What Is the Allegation Against Raghuveer Meena?
According to the complaint and reports on the FIR, Meena allegedly presented himself as an ST candidate in the Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission (MPPSC) examination and received the benefit of reservation.
He was subsequently selected as a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in 1986.
The investigation is also examining records from the period before he entered police service. Reports state that while working as a government school teacher, Meena had identified his category as Other Backward Class (OBC) in official records. The discrepancy between the earlier records and the later ST certificate is among the issues being examined by investigators.
1984 ST Certificate Declared Invalid
The case centres on an ST certificate issued in 1984 from Vidisha district.
The matter was referred to the Madhya Pradesh government’s high-level scrutiny committee for suspected ST caste certificates. The committee examined available government records and other documents before declaring the certificate invalid.
The inquiry also examined the circumstances in which the certificate was issued, records concerning Meena’s place of origin and the role of officials associated with the certificate process.
The issue had been under scrutiny for several years. A 2020 report on the earlier legal proceedings said the Madhya Pradesh High Court had upheld the scrutiny committee’s decision cancelling the caste certificate.
Complaint Led to Fresh Criminal Investigation
The complaint that led to the present action was filed by Harvir Singh Raghuvanshi, a resident of Guna district.
Following the complaint and scrutiny of the certificate, the Police Headquarters’ Vigilance Branch has now registered a criminal case. Investigators are examining the complete chain—from the issuance of the certificate to its alleged use for obtaining reservation benefits.
The investigation will also look at the role of people involved in issuing or processing the certificate and the documents associated with the case.
Sections Relating to Forgery and SC/ST Act
The FIR has been registered under provisions relating to cheating, forgery and use or creation of false documents, along with relevant provisions of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, according to current reports.
At this stage, the allegations remain subject to investigation and legal proceedings. Registration of an FIR itself does not establish guilt.
From DSP to IPS
Raghuveer Singh Meena entered the police service after being selected as a DSP through the MPPSC process in 1986. He later received an IPS award in 2002, according to current reports.
After retirement, he remained involved in public life and is currently associated with the Guna district panchayat, according to reports.
His wife, Mamta Meena, served as the BJP MLA from the Chachoura Assembly constituency from 2013 to 2018 and has also served as Guna Zila Panchayat chairperson.
Career Trajectory & Service Background
Raghuveer Singh Meena began his career as a government school teacher, with records from that period identifying his category as OBC. He was later selected as a DSP through the MPPSC examination and joined the police service in 1986. He subsequently entered the IPS cadre through state service nomination.
His name has now returned to public attention after the Madhya Pradesh Police Headquarters’ Vigilance Branch registered an FIR concerning the validity and alleged use of an ST caste certificate issued in 1984.
The investigation will determine the facts surrounding the certificate, its use and the role of other individuals named in the case.
