No closure in sight for Baisoya fake-degree matter

After nearly a month since a row erupted over the "fake" degree of Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) President, there has been no communication between the central university and the Thiruvalluvar University in Tamil Nadu, the two principal stakeholders in the controversy.

According to a letter written on October 3, the Thiruvalluvar University Registrar had communicated to the Principal Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Tamil Nadu government, that the DUSU President and DU student, Ankiv Baisoya, had not been a student of his university and that the certificate produced by him from that university is fake.

Baisoya allegedly used these fraudulently procured education certificates to get admission in Delhi University.

However, Delhi University -- an official from which had earlier said that they are looking into several similar cases -- is yet to make a headway into the matter. An official said it is yet to get it in writing from the southern university that Baisoya never studied there.

"I have been sending them reminders after reminders, but I am yet to hear from them. Until then it is difficult for me to comment on the status of the inquiry. I sent another reminder just yesterday," K.T.S. Sarao, Head of Department of Buddhist Studies, where Baisoya is enrolled, told IANS.

When he was told about that university's letter to the state government informing it that Baisoya was not a student with them, Sarao said there have been questions about the veracity of that letter, and he needs something in writing from the Thiruvalluvar University, before he can take any action.

When IANS contacted the top official from the Thiruvalluvar University, he said the university has done its part and that it has nothing more left to do.

"Everything has been done. We have done everything that we had to. We are a state university. Our government has told us not to say anything on it now," said Thiruvalluvar University, Vice Chancellor, K. Murugan.

He denied receiving any communication from Delhi University.

Baisoya was elected President of the DU students' union last month after a fierce poll battle between the RSS-backed Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP)-- of which Baisoya is a member -- and Congress' National Students Union of India.

The "fake-degree" matter was taken up by the Congress' student group last month. It produced a Thiruvalluvar University Registrar's letter, written to the former's state party chairman, informing that Baisoya was not a student of the said university.

(Vishal Narayan can be contacted at vishal.n@ians.in)

-- IANS

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