In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court of India has set aside a Jharkhand High Court ruling that reinstated Ranjan Kumar, a constable accused of maintaining dual identities to work in both the Jharkhand and Bihar police forces. Kumar was initially appointed to the Jharkhand Police in 2005 but went on unauthorized leave in December 2007. Investigations revealed that during this absence, he allegedly used the identity of Santosh Kumar to secure a position in the Bihar Police using forged documents. Following a departmental inquiry, Kumar was dismissed from service in 2015, a decision upheld by a single judge of the High Court. However, in August 2022, a division bench of the High Court reversed this decision, citing lack of evidence. The Supreme Court intervened, ordering a forensic inquiry that confirmed the fraud through fingerprint analysis. The court reiterated that police officers must uphold the highest standards of integrity, stating that public employment cannot be obtained through deception. The Supreme Court restored the original dismissal and ordered criminal proceedings against Kumar for cheating and forgery.