3 min readPuneOct 17, 2025 10:50 PM IST
First published on: Oct 17, 2025 at 08:50 PM IST
A former student of Pune’s Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Premvardhan Birhade, has alleged caste-bias in the institute’s refusal to submit a security form required for a job he had secured in London. He alleged that a professor inquired about his caste identity before refusing to provide him with the required confirmation. Modern College, in a statement, denied allegations of caste-bias and said that a recommendation was not provided due to Birhade’s ‘unsatisfactory conduct’ as a student.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Birhade claimed that he lost a job he had secured with a Korean beauty brand in London requiring airport access, as Modern College refused to sign the required form. This form was a part of a third-party security check wherein the college was required to reply after filling a mail attachment. He alleged that college authorities enquired about his caste before refusing to provide the required confirmation.
The attachment required the college to fill in the question – “To the best of your knowledge, is there anything known about the person named in this reference which suggests a lack of integrity or otherwise reflects adversely upon their suitability to hold an Airport Security Identify Pass allowing them access to sensitive areas of the Heathrow Airport”.
In a statement released on Friday, Dr Nivedita Ekbote, Principal of Modern College, denied the charges levelled. She wrote, “…the student completed his education prior to my tenure as Principal, and I have never personally known or taught him…Furthermore, the student has already been issued three Letters of Recommendation (LORs) and one Bonafide Certificate by the college administration in the past, thereby fulfilling all his legitimate academic documentation requirements.”
“Recently, he approached the college once again, demanding that an Education Reference for employment purposes be issued under my signature. Considering his unsatisfactory conduct and disciplinary record during his tenure as a student, and as per institutional policy, the college decided not to issue any further recommendation or reference letter,” she added
In two of the letters of recommendations issued by Modern College, issued in February and March 2024, Prem was described as an ‘outstanding student with a motivating nature’, ‘enterprising’, and someone who ‘displays polite and pleasant mannerisms’.
On the allegation of caste discrimination, Ekbote’s statement said, “I wish to categorically state that no such instance of caste-based discrimination has ever occurred. Neither the college nor any staff member has ever raised or discussed his caste identity at any time.”
Birhade has posted videos about this incident on Instagram, where he has over 31,000 followers. Ekbote wrote that the former student was publishing false and defamatory videos on social media about the college and professors, and should be charged under IPC and IT acts to prevent ‘harassment’.
Prakash Ambedkar led Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi held a protest outside Modern College on Friday in support of Birhade.
Earlier, Modern College had provided Birhade with two letters of recommendations for admission to higher education institutes. (File Photo) 
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