This could well be the mother of all scams in Nagpur University, perhaps as big as the 1999 bogus marksheet and revaluation scam. This time,
it is about a gang of touts active to fraudulently help students pursuing bachelor of physical education (BPEd) course.
According to sources, the touts used to lure students (especially those from other states) to get BPEd degree by charging a huge sum without them having to appear in the exam. The touts allegedly had good terms with examination department officials and the malpractice was on since many years until it surfaced earlier this week.
PI Kishore Gavai of Katol police told TOI that three persons have been detained and more are likely to be rounded up soon. A lecturer and two former students are among the 3 detained, police sources said. On Saturday, some students stormed the university with an audio recording of an unidentified tout demanding money from them and assuring them of clearing the exam.
These students, who were pursuing their degrees from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Sharirik Shikshan Mahavidyalaya, Katol and Rani Laxmibai Sharirik Shikshan Mahavidyalaya, Sawargaon, fell in the trap. They claimed to have paid the money and were awaiting their results. However, some examination department officials found something amiss and withheld their results.