MU sacks staffer, files FIR in paper-leak case
Mumbai, April 24 -- The University of Mumbai has sacked a staffer, issued notices to three others, and lodged an FIR after BCom exam papers were allegedly leaked between April 11 and 15 at a college in Bandra.
The university launched an internal probe after the case surfaced, with officials suspecting the leak originated from its Centre for Distance and Online Education (CDOE).
The leaked papers, which included taxation, economics, and commerce and management, were allegedly circulated before third-year BCom exams. Acting on suspicion, a university squad visited National College in Bandra during the exams and is continuing its investigation.
University officials said the Unfair Means Committee and a special investigation panel recommended strict action after the leak recently came to light. Student outfit Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) had earlier demanded tougher action, pointing out that initial steps targeted only six students. Yuva Sena (UBT) leaders, including Pradeep Sawant and others, met the pro-vice chancellor on Wednesday, pressing for a police case. An FIR was subsequently registered at BKC Police Station.
Sawant alleged the university's action was limited to junior staff. He said, "University has been limited to issuing show-cause notices solely to Class 3 and Class 4 employees at the University's CDOE. This development reinforces the suspicion that the paper leakage originated within the University itself."
ABVP Mumbai Metropolitan Secretary Prashant Mali said, "It appears that in order to protect the "big fish" involved in the case, some "small fish" are being made scapegoats."
He further demanded to appoint a Special Investigation Team to conduct a thorough inquiry.
Mali said, "If the administration does not obtain resignations from the concerned officials, it raises a serious question: Whom is the administration trying to protect, and why?"
In previous cases, the university and police have taken similar action. In 2012, 14 people were arrested in an engineering paper leak case, which included five students, five peons, two laboratory assistants and two professors....
To read the full article or to get the complete feed from this publication, please
Contact Us.