Students being questioned over cash-for-admission racket

The 2012 case alleges that S P Mandali officials demanded money for admission to 3 Mumbai colleges

At a time when the education sector is abuzz with the recent arrest of Khalsa College’s principal for demanding money for admission, a similar two-year-old case recently witnessed new developments as well.

Pune cops are questioning students in Mumbai who had taken admission in any of the three colleges in 2012. File pic

Several policemen from Pune are in Mumbai to question students who had taken admission in 2012 in any of the three Matunga-based colleges; Ramnarain Ruia, R A Podar and Welingkar Institute of Management.

Two years ago, a case was registered at Pune’s Vishrambaug police station against the trust officials of Shikshan Prasarak Mandali — which runs the three aforementioned colleges, for allegedly charging money from students to provide them seats under the management and merit quota.

According to Pune’s Additional Commissioner of Police J S Lohalkar, the Bombay High Court has directed Pune’s Commissioner of Police to probe into the matter. “Since the investigations are on, we cannot reveal much,” said Lohalkar, adding that they have been asked to submit a detailed report to the court by the first week of June.

Speaking to mid-day, one of the students who completed his Masters in Marketing Management from Welingkar last year, said, “Two policemen from Pune had come to my house last Tuesday, and enquired about my admission. I had acquired the seat based on merit and provided all my documents to prove the same. I believe some students have complained that they had to pay money to get a seat.”

Several students from Mumbai have also been called to Pune for questioning last week. “We have sent summons to students who took admission under the management and merit quota at the institutes in the same year when the complaint was filed.

Since many of them are in Mumbai, we have also sent cops to question them personally. We are checking their documents to ensure that they got admission based on merit and not donations,” said Police Sub-Inspector Rajendra Koli from Khadak police station, Pune, who is in the city for the case.

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