Bhubaneswar: A former Block Resource Centre Coordinator (BRCC) in Odisha’s Balangir district has been arrested for submitting fake educational certificates at the time of his appointment as a teacher around 35 years ago.

The accused has been identified as Shyamsundar Pradhan, a former BRCC of Gudvella block in Balangir. Pradhan had retired from service voluntarily on health grounds last year, sources said.

Pradhan had allegedly submitted a forged mark sheet of B.Ed examination during his appointment as a teacher at a government primary school in Tusura area of Balangir in 1988. He was promoted to the BRCC of Gudvella block a few years ago, sources said.

Tusura police in Balangir arrested Pradhan on November 2 as per a report submitted by the District Education Officer (DEO), sources added.

It is worth mentioning here that at least four school teachers in Balangir were dismissed from service in August this year after it was confirmed that they had secured the jobs by furnishing fake educational certificates.