Maharashtra fee fixing body faces graft probe after MLA alleges ₹40,000-crore scam

Ruling Shiv Sena legislator Mahesh Shinde alleged on Wednesday that there have been financial irregularities in the Maharashtra Fees Regulating Authority (FRA) over the last eight years.

The FRA, which determines fees for students in higher and technical education in the State, is involved in corruption to the tune of ₹40,000 crore, Mr. Shinde claimed in the Assembly.

Responding to the allegation, Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil said that a panel of retired judges will conduct a probe.

Speaking during the Zero Hour, Mr. Shinde accused the FRA officials of colluding with college managements to set fees at higher rates, with fees in some cases set as high as ₹1.5 lakh, even though the appropriate fee was ₹75,000.

“I have evidence of these transactions on a pen drive,” he said, adding that 30% of the additional amount collected was transferred to officials as “commission”.

‘Wasteful expenditure’

Citing information from a CAG report, he pointed out that a contractual data operator with the FRA was receiving a monthly salary of ₹90,000, describing it as a “wasteful expenditure”.

Meanwhile, Mr. Patil said the government would examine the matter and, if the allegations were found to be true, it would have to return the money to the parents.

“[Mahesh] Shinde has provided examples. The fee determination committee is headed by a retired High Court judge. A probe requires a committee of a similar level. We will appoint a committee of retired judges to investigate,” Mr. Patil said.

The Minister added that if a scam of such magnitude was established, a special investigation team would be constituted and an FIR would be filed.

He said the order for the probe would be issued in a day or two and asked Mr. Shinde to submit the evidence in his possession.