Taekwondo boss held on fraud charge

The City police have arrested the secretary-general of the Taekwondo Federation of India (TFI), T Praveen Kumar, for allegedly issuing a fake sports certificate to a candidate, who used it to gain a government job.

The case, based on a private complaint filed by the Bangalore president of the Federation, K Patel Mune Gowda in the 2nd Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) court a month ago, was referred to the Basavanagudi Police station.

The private complaint alleged that Praveen Kumar, the national secretary general of the the official body representing the martial art sport in the country, misused his position and issued a fake certificate of participation in the Commonwealth Taekwondo Championship, to a sportsman, Singara Mattu. The latter used the fake certificate to gain a government job with the Punjab Police Department under the sports quota. The Commonwealth Taekwondo Championship had participation from all Commonwealth countries and was held in Chennai between January 28 and 31, 2011.

Only gold, silver and bronze medal winners at the 2010 National Taekwondo Championship were eligible to represent India at the Commonwealth Championship. The three medal winners formed the official Indian team at the Championship. However, Singara Mattu’s certificate showed that he too represented the country.

The complainant furnished the attested list of all participants at the Commonwealth Taekwondo Championship and also a copy of the fake certificate that Singara Mattu was issued by the Federation, as appendix to the private complaint. The complaint also lists R D Mangueskar, president of the Taekwondo Federation of Goa as the second accused, whose son-in-law is Singara Mattu.

The 2nd ACMM Court had referred the case to Basavanagudi Police Station for investigation. The police search the residence of Praveen Kumar at Garadi Apartments on K R Road and also the Federation office on Mayor Krishnappa Road early Thursday morning before arresting Praveen Kumar.

Sources said the police seized about 200 unfilled but signed certificates of 2009, 2010 and 2011.