Pune professor in ACB net for ‘accepting bribe’ to approve PhD thesis

Dr Shakuntala Nivrutti Mane (59) is currently a professor in Economics department at the Baburaoji Gholap College in Sangvi.

Anti-Corruption Bureau verified the complaint on March 26 and laid a trap at the office of HoD Economics in Baburaoji Gholap College on Saturday.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Saturday arrested a professor of Economics who allegedly accepted a bribe for giving approval to a PhD thesis.

ACB said the accused Dr Shakuntala Nivrutti Mane (59) is currently a professor in Economics department at the Baburaoji Gholap College in Sangvi. The Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) had in 2022 appointed Dr Mane as a guide of a PhD scholar, 40, who is also a teacher.

“The PhD scholar had submitted his thesis in October 2023. We received a complaint from him that Dr Mane allegedly demanded Rs 25,000 for cancelling his thesis and approving it when submitted again with improvements,” said Deputy Superintendent of Police Sudam Pachorkar, the investigation officer of this case.

ACB verified the complaint on March 26 and laid a trap at the office of HoD Economics in Baburaoji Gholap College on Saturday. The sleuths caught Dr Mane red handed as she was accepting the first installment of Rs 20,000 bribe from the complainant, as per an ACB press release.

An FIR was lodged against Dr Mane at Sangvi police station as per sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Click here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories