New Delhi: The caste scrutiny committee gave former Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Mumbai zone director Sameer Wankhede a clean chit, an official said on Saturday. Wankhede was being investigated for allegedly used a fraudulent caste certificate to apply for the government job.

The Maharashtra government’s Social Justice Department issued the order on Friday, an official said.

Wankhede not raised as a Muslim

According to the order, Sameer Wankhede, an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, was not raised as a Muslim. It was proven that he is a member of the Mahar community which is a Scheduled Caste (SC).

Nawab Malik, a former minister of Maharashtra and current leader of the NCP, brought up the subject of Wankhede’s caste. Manoj Sansare, an influential political figure, as well as Ashok and Sanjay Kamble filed complaints against Wankhede.

The Mumbai District Caste Certificate Verification Committee reviewed the concerns on Friday before issuing a order.

Conversion to Islam not established

Wankhede and his father Dnyandev Wankhede’s renunciation of Hinduism and subsequent conversion to Islam were not established, according to the decision.

The ruling stated that it has been established that Wankhede and his father are members of the Mahar-37 Scheduled Caste.

The ruling stated that objections submitted by Nawab Malik and others about the caste claim of Wankhede and regarding the religion of the caste certificate are not supported by evidence, hence complaints are being rejected as a result.