Pune: Savitribai Phule Pune University on Wednesday lodged a police complaint in the alleged cash-for-degree certificate scam, in which a university employee was accused of accepting money to fabricate mark sheets and degree certificates for a candidate. The university also suspended the employee, identified as Ramesh Mukhekar, with immediate effect pending investigation.The complaint was filed by Rajendra Talware, director of the university’s Examination and Evaluation Board, at Chatushrungi police station. Student and youth organisations staged protests on the campus demanding a fair probe and strict action against those involved. Protesters also questioned why the university took nearly a month after receiving the complaint to constitute an inquiry committee into the alleged scam.Registrar Prafulla Pawar’s statement said that Mukhekar, an employee of the finance and accounts department, is not associated with the examination department of the university. The three-member internal committee looking into the matter submitted its report on Wednesday.Pawar said, “It was observed that the documents prepared by him on WhatsApp are not consistent with the records of the examination department and that Mukhekar participated in the misconduct by accepting money. He has been suspended from the university service with immediate effect and a formal complaint has been filed for a thorough investigation. Strict action will be taken against those found involved in this misconduct during the police investigation which will also clarify whether anyone else in the system is involved.”“The university is appealing to students and parents not to believe rumors in this regard, as the exam mark sheets and degree certificates issued by the university include high-quality security standards,” added Pawar.Activist Dhammaratna Gaikwad on July 1 submitted a letter to vice-chancellor Suresh Gosavi, on behalf of a man, who allegedly paid Rs 70,000 via UPI to get the mark sheets and degree certificate for his son. He said Mukhekar had allegedly sought Rs 3 lakh for three years’ BCom mark sheet and degree certificate but finally settled for Rs 1.5 lakh.“After he was paid Rs 70,000 in three installments, Mukhekar sent the parent certificates on WhatsApp but there were too many mistakes and the parent cancelled the deal and asked for his money. When Mukhekar refused, the parent approached me and I went to the university,” Gaikwad said.
