Probe casts shadow over students8217; future

VADODARA, July 27: The handing over of the fake caste certificate probe to the Criminal Investigation Department has cast a shadow over the future of the 40-odd students who allegedly secured admission to the Padra College of Arts and Commerce under false pretenses in September last year. Though they have appeared for their first year examinations, their results have been withheld by the university, Commerce faculty dean J K Syan said. He added that they had been told they could not rejoin classes till they had been cleared of the charges.

The admission issue blew up in October last year, when it came up for discussion at a Syndicate meeting. A primary inquiry was instituted in November; all the suspect admission forms were seized, but the students were not barred from classes.

In December, a three-member committee comprising Pro-Vice-Chancellor Deepak Kumar De, K C Mehta and V C Shah launched a probe into the affair and recommended that the results of the students concerned be withheld.

They also found then Commerce faculty dean B S Patel responsible for the students8217; admission, but dismissed all charges against Shireesh Kulkarni, who was accused of signing the fake caste certificates. Talking to Express Newsline, MSU Vice-Chancellor Anil Kane said since the panel had not suggested any action against the guilty, the CID had been asked to conduct an impartial probe and come to a fair conclusion.