2 out of 3 clerks arrested for running admission racket in private university colleges in Mumbai

Mumbai: Mumbai Police has arrested three people, including two clerks of KJ Somaiya College here, for running a cash racket for admission to Somaiya Vidyavihar University colleges, officials said. He said the accused allegedly forged marksheets and leaving certificates to get students admitted in three colleges of the university in the Vidyavihar area of ​​the metropolis. “A case has been registered against five people, including two university employees, who secured admission for at least 50 students in Class 11 during the academic year 2024-25 by creating fake documents,” an official said. Those 50 students were ineligible for admission, he said. The incident took place at KJ Somaiya College of Arts and Commerce, Vidyavihar, Shri SK Somaiya Vinay Mandir Secondary School and Junior College and KJ Somaiya College of Science and Commerce, he said. The accused clerks of Somaiya College, Mahendra Patil and Arjun Rathod, along with their three associates Kamleshbhai, Jeetubhai and Babubhai, created fake documents including CBSE, ICSE, IB, IGCSE marksheets of the students and extorted money to obtain admission of ineligible students. He said, from his parents. He said, though the admission process was online, the accused persons generated login IDs and passwords of the students and secured their admission. He said, “The accused persons conspired and created fabricated documents and marksheets to cheat not only the college, school education department but also other schools.” As soon as the admission racket was exposed, the principal of KJ Somaiya College of Arts and Commerce contacted Tilak Nagar police station and lodged a complaint against five accused, including two employees, he said. He said that on the basis of the complaint, a case has been registered under relevant sections of BNS and IT Act. During the investigation, the role of the clerks – Patil and Rathod – came to light, following which they were arrested, he said, adding that another accused was arrested in connection with the case. He said that the matter is under investigation.