After a major admission racket was busted at junior colleges run by Somaiya Vidyavihar, the institutes on Monday insisted that they were the “victims” and the “whistleblowers” in the alleged scam, investigations for which are still ongoing.
“In this situation, Somaiya Vidyavihar Colleges are not just whistleblowers but also victims. We have adhered to the prescribed processes and are cooperating fully to address the concerns raised,” the institutes said in a statement.
Till now four people, including a junior clerk in the state education department and two clerks at Somaiya junior colleges, have been arrested in connection with the admission racket case, which was first highlighted by this newspaper. The FIR in the alleged scam was registered on December 16, based on a complaint filed by principal of K.J. Somaiya College of Arts and Commerce, Dr. Kishan Pawar. The case was registered at the Tilak Nagar police station under charges of cheating, forgery, breach of trust, and other acts of criminal conspiracy against five individuals.
On December 18, the junior colleges — S. K. Somaiya Vinay Mandir & Junior College, K. J. Somaiya College of Science & Commerce, and K. J. Somaiya College of Arts & Commerce — had cancelled the admissions of 47 students who had allegedly procured admissions using fake documents.
“The admissions process for junior colleges is conducted through the state education and sports department (SESD) portal, and allotment letters are issued to students by the guidance centres affiliated with the Directorate of Higher Secondary Education. Role of our colleges begins after the allotment, where we strictly follow the guidelines provided,” the institute clarified on Monday.
For securing the admission into the junior colleges run by Somaiya Vidyavihar, some students had allegedly forged their class 10 mark sheets and school leaving certificates after paying bribes to the accused who have been arrested. “Students and their parents paid a bribe ranging between Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 3,00,000 to the accused to forge documents,” said a senior Somaiya Vidyavihar official on condition of anonymity.
The management of Somaiya Vidyavihar also clarified that the junior colleges are “affiliated with the Directorate of Higher Secondary Education, Govt of Maharashtra and are not part of Somaiya Vidyavihar University”.
“When a junior clerk at the Department of Education is involved in the alleged scam, it is possible that more students studying at other junior colleges affiliated with the Directorate of Higher Secondary Education may have forged their documents,” the official added.
