Mumbai, Nov 3 NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar on Monday alleged corruption of Rs 2,300 crore involving a private company tasked with work related to Maharashtra CET (Common Entrance Test) and other government departments, and demanded a judicial inquiry.
He also sought the resignation of Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil and the Maharashtra CET cell’s “chief official”.
Addressing the media, Pawar alleged that EduSpark and its sister concerns or associated companies had secured contracts through manipulated tendering, including work related to CET examination management, skill development, educational software, infrastructure and other government departments.
He urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to order an immediate judicial inquiry and conduct the upcoming December examination in offline mode to prevent further alleged irregularities.
Pawar alleged that companies involved in examination-related activities had formed cartels and some people associated with Eduspark’s owners had links with these companies.
He claimed the “CET chief official” was involved in the controversy and demanded action against the guilty, irrespective of political affiliations.
“The Chief Minister has nothing to do with this matter. If anyone is involved, it is the former minister and the present Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil and a person associated with him,” Pawar alleged, adding that he would disclose the other person’s name on social media.
Patil and the concerned officials should take responsibility and resign as they have compromised the future of students, he alleged.
Pawar said the CET cell is a government department and not an autonomous institution like the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC).
He also demanded a forensic audit and alleged that officials had failed to act despite being provided information and evidence about the irregularities.
Pawar demanded protection for teachers who had exposed the alleged corruption through a “sting operation”.
He alleged that the teachers had approached the Pimpri-Chinchwad police commissionerate and submitted documents, but an FIR had not been registered.
“If the government does nothing in the next 10 days, we will take up the issue politically,” he said.
Pawar also questioned the progress of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted to probe alleged irregularities in the Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (CET), while a teacher at the same press conference claimed a sting operation had exposed an agency offering guaranteed examination results for Rs 25 lakh.
The audio clip played at the press conference purportedly mentioned Vikram Pachpute, BJP MLA from Ahilyanagar district.
“I was the one who took a delegation of Pune-based protesters of the civil service examination to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The audio clip played by Pawar was selectively presented. He did not play the entire audio conversation.
“I had only stated in the audio clip that Fadnavis prima facie felt that there is some substance in the claims made by the protesters. However, my words were blown out of proportion,” he told PTI.
(PTI News)
