Sprouts SIT Exposes Higher Education Scam
• Panvel JD Office in Corruption Storm
•FIR Missing in Bhagat–Mishra Fraud Case
•Fake Degree, Illegal Appointments Uncovered
Unmesh Gujarathi
Sprouts News Exclusive
Contact: +91 9322755098
The Sprouts News Special Investigation Team (SIT) has exposed massive corruption in K. M. Agrawal College, Kalyan, involving Suhas Bhagat, Ashok Mishra, and Mahesh Bhiwandikar. Despite clear evidence, the Panvel JD Office has failed to file FIRs, raising allegations of bribery, political shielding, and systemic betrayal of Maharashtra’s higher education sector.
Explosive revelations have rocked Maharashtra’s higher education sector. The Joint Director (JD) Office of Higher Education, Panvel, stands accused of deliberately shielding the accused in a multi-layered financial fraud involving K. M. Agrawal College, Kalyan (W). Despite having all evidence, officials have failed to file an FIR against Suhas Bhagat, Ashok Lalbihari Mishra,Mahesh Bhiwandikar and Administration behind them, raising serious questions about corruption inside the department.
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Financial Fraud Ignored by Authorities
According to documents accessed by the Sprouts News Special Investigation Team (SIT), the Panvel JD Office has received multiple complaints, testimonies, and proofs confirming siphoning of government funds. Yet, no official action has been taken. Instead of filing an FIR, the office is accused of deliberate silence, bribery, and political pressure.
Whistleblowers allege that the JD Office is quick to harass small staff for clerical lapses but turns a blind eye to powerful insiders. “This isn’t negligence. It is complicity,” said one insider, adding that the silence only strengthens systemic corruption within higher education.
The K. M. Agrawal College Corruption Cases
The Sprouts SIT investigation outlines three major cases tied to the college and the Panvel JD Office:
1. Case of Suhas Bhagat
Illegally appointed as a Junior Library Clerk, despite ten more qualified candidates being present. Allegations of misuse of position and financial irregularities remain unaddressed. No inquiry or FIR has been registered.
2. Case of Ashok Lalbihari Mishra
Appointed as Junior Clerk in 2013 without meeting eligibility norms. He has been drawing a government salary for years, yet no recovery has been initiated despite concrete evidence of his illegal appointment.
3. Case of Mahesh Bhiwandikar
Exposed for holding a fake M.Com degree, confirmed by Mumbai University. Despite this, the JD Office allowed him to receive gratuity, pension, and provident fund benefits. To avoid criminal charges, he even approached the Bombay High Court, securing interim relief, but the corruption allegations remain valid.
Role of the Joint Director Office
At the center of the scandal lies Vijay Narkhede, Joint Director (Panvel Region). Instead of initiating disciplinary proceedings or filing FIRs, he allegedly protected the accused and delayed action. Sources say he is “waiting for his transfer” to avoid accountability.
Even the Director Office, Pune was aware of the corruption, but senior officials, including Dr. Shailendra Devlenkar, chose to remain silent. This inaction points to a wider nexus protecting corrupt elements in the higher education system.
Systemic Corruption or Political Cover-Up?
Legal experts warn that the failure to act despite clear proof amounts to abetment of corruption at the highest level. If left unchecked, this could erode trust in Maharashtra’s higher education governance. Activists argue that public money meant for salaries and education has been looted under administrative protection.
The Sprouts News Investigation Team (SIT) has found growing demands for an independent probe. Civil society groups and education activists are pressing the state government to explain why FIRs have not been filed despite overwhelming evidence.
Also Read: Maharishi’s Mahesh Yogi Tribal School in Shahdol Suffers Decade‑Long Expansion Freeze.
The Larger Implications
The scandal not only exposes corruption in K. M. Agrawal College but also highlights how regulatory offices have become complicit shields for fraud. If proven, this could open the door to multiple investigations into higher education offices across Maharashtra.
Sprouts SIT Verdict
This case underscores a deep-rooted nexus between corrupt college staff and government officers. By refusing to file FIRs, the JD Office has effectively protected fraudsters, misused taxpayer money, and betrayed public trust.
Unless the state government orders a transparent, court-monitored probe, the Panvel JD Office scandal risks becoming another buried file in Maharashtra’s history of education frauds.
