College principal, PA held for taking Rs 25,000 bribe

The principal of a prominent college and his personal assistant were today arrested for allegedly accepting bribe of Rs 25,000 from a student to enroll him in class XII, Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) said.
Ajit Singh Theti, the principal of Guru Nanak Khalsa College at Matunga in central Mumbai, and his personal assistant Nikita Vaidya were arrested for accepting Rs 25,000 bribe from a student seeking admission to XII class, Additional Police Commissioner Vishwas Nangare Patil told PTI.
Established in late 1930s, the government-aided Khalsa College is among the earliest institutions of higher learning that emerged on the educational landscape of Mumbai.

According to the ACB, the principal sought Rs 30,000 for himself and not as donation to the college when the student came for admission on Tuesday. The student is not eligible for admission going by his marks.
The student and his father, a government employee, approached ACB the next day as they were not ready to pay bribe.
"Accordingly, a trap was laid this afternoon at the principal's office when his PA accepted Rs 25,000 as first installment from the complainant party. The cash was accepted by Vaidya on behalf of Ajit Singh," Patil said.

The ACB has recordings of telephonic conversations between the victim and the principal which are crucial evidence in the case, police said.

According to police, Theti, during the purported conversations, said to the student's family that Rs 25,000 was for his personal usage, no receipt would be given and it would not be considered as donation to the college.
During preliminary probe, Vaidya was found in possession of Rs four lakh, police said, adding that they were trying to find out from where she got the money.