Mumbai University Scandal
• Fake Appointments and Salary Fraud Exposed!
• Sprouts News Investigation: Who’s Protecting the Guilty?
• Shocking Revelations: Corrupt Appointments in Mumbai University-Affiliated Colleges
Unmesh Gujarathi
Sprouts News Exclusive
A Sprouts News special investigation has uncovered massive corruption and irregularities in faculty appointments and salary fixations at a Mumbai University-affiliated college. The investigation exposes how fraudulent recruitments and illegal promotions were carried out with the involvement of senior officials, including the college principal and the Joint Director’s office.
• The Suhas Bhagat Appointment Controversy
In 2014, Suhas Mahadev Bhagat was appointed as a Junior Library Clerk despite not meeting the required qualifications. At the time, Dr. Vijay Narkhede was the Joint Director, and he initially rejected Bhagat’s appointment. However, due to pressure from college authorities, Bhagat was granted six months to obtain the necessary qualifications. This move violated the rights of at least ten other qualified candidates who had applied for the position. One of the candidates even filed a formal complaint, but no action was taken.
• The Ashok Mishra Salary Fixation Scam
Another shocking case is that of Ashok Lalbihari Mishra, who has been illegally promoted and granted salary benefits under the 7th Pay Commission. Mishra, who was originally appointed as a Junior Clerk-Cum-Cashier, was unlawfully fixed as a Lab Assistant—a position that was already occupied by Krishna D. Singh since 2014. Singh had received his confirmation in 2016, making any additional appointments to the same post completely illegal.
Upon discovering this fraudulent appointment, Krishna Singh immediately filed complaints with the Joint Director’s Office (JD Office Panvel), the Director’s Office in Pune, and the Ministry. However, Joint Director Dr. Vijay Narkhede,Panvel reason, who was also in charge in 2014 when Bhagat’s appointment was manipulated, is deliberately delaying action.
• Financial Manipulation and Collusion
Sources within Sprouts News confirm that this salary fixation scam involved a network of influential officials, including:
– Anita Manna (College Principal)
– Dr. Keshav Tupe (Joint Director)
– Yuvraj Salunkhe (Junior Administrative Officer)
– Dr.Vijay Narkhede (Joint Director, Panvel)
Also Read: TV9 and Megha Engineering: A Media Shield for Corruption.
These officials allegedly engaged in financial transactions to ensure Mishra’s promotion, bypassing all legal norms and eligibility criteria.
• K.M. Agarwal College Fake Degree Scandal
The corruption is not limited to just one college. In another alarming case, Mahesh Kamalakar Bhiwandikar, an assistant professor at K.M. Agarwal College, Kalyan, secured his position using a fake M.Com degree from an unrecognized university.
Despite the administration being aware of the forged documents, Bhiwandikar was allowed to teach for 25 years. He even used the fake degree to clear the SET examination, securing six illegal promotions within Mumbai University.
• Mumbai University’s Role: Turning a Blind Eye?
Sprouts News has uncovered that Mumbai University has been complicit in validating appointments based on fake degrees. Documents obtained through RTI (Right to Information) reveal that many faculty members, including Principal Anita Arun Manna, lacked proper qualifications but were still recognized by the university.
• Lack of Action Despite Evidence
Despite multiple complaints and undeniable evidence, the Joint Director’s Office and Mumbai University have failed to act against the fraudulent appointments. The delay in action raises concerns about corruption at the highest levels of the education system.
• Public Outrage and Call for Investigation
The findings of the Sprouts News investigation have sparked outrage among students, faculty members, and education activists. There is growing demand for:
1. Immediate action by the Director’s Office in Pune against Dr. Vijay Narkhede and other involved officials.
2. A thorough audit of all faculty appointments and promotions at Mumbai University-affiliated colleges.
3. Legal action against those involved in fraudulent salary fixations and appointments.
• Sprouts News Continues to Investigate
This investigation is just the beginning. Sprouts News will continue to expose corruption in Mumbai University and its affiliated institutions, ensuring that justice is served and transparency is maintained in the education sector.