MUMBAI: NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar has levelled allegations of corruption against the State Common Entrance Test (CET) Cell, claiming tenders were rigged and money taken in exchange for admissions to various courses.
“If this scourge of corruption is not eradicated, only students with money will secure admission, and meritorious students will face the risk of being sidelined. Therefore, this scourge must be uprooted and a judicial inquiry be conducted,’’ said Pawar.
Some of the teachers who took part in the purported sting operation also demanded the resignation of state higher and technical education minister Chandrakant Patil, pointing out that the state CET Cell was a government department. Allegations of corruption and mismanagement of the MHT-CET admissions have dogged the state government. Recently, students and even political parties demanded to know why there were large discrepancies in candidates’ SSC and HSC results and the MHT-CET percentiles. Protests were also held in Mumbai last month. As far as the sting operation is concerned, we have already constituted a task force to examine such videos and claims. Meanwhile, Pawar also met Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, who is part of the panel probing wrongdoings in the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC). He urged Mundhe to ease the rules for students who submit evidence.
Dilip Sardesai, commissioner, CET Cell, said, “Regarding the tender-related allegations, we submitted documentary evidence and a detailed written response to MLA Rohit Pawar in September, and also submitted the same to the government. Sardesai said, “Regarding the allegations of manipulation of scores, an SIT has already been constituted, and we are cooperating with the investigation by submitting all the documentary evidence sought by it.
