'Pay ₹10K to clear your ATKT exam, said univ official'

MUMBAI: A second-year student from Mumbai University's Institute of Distance and Open Learning (IDOL) has alleged that he was asked for a bribe of Rs 10,000 per subject by an official to clear his exams. The student failed in three subjects. He has now written a letter to university officials with the complaint and the university has decided to probe the incident. The student even clicked a photo of the official and attached it with his letter.

The student got ATKTs (allowed to keep term) in three subjects in his second year B Com through distance education - in foundation course, business law and accountancy. The results of the semester IV exams in IDOL were declared recently. On October 9, when the student went to IDOL to apply for revaluation and seek photocopies, he was allegedly asked for a bribe for helping him clear two papers. In a video, the student claimed, "I was first asked to give Rs 15,000, then the official reduced it to Rs 10,000. First, I said that I did not have so much money and that I may clear the papers after revaluation."

In the letter submitted to the IDOL director and copied to the exam head and the vice-chancellor, the student said, "I was told that the revaluation results will also be negative and that I will not be able to clear this year. I was told that to clear the second year, I will have to pay this amount otherwise I will lose the year."

The student alleged that he was asked to pay the money in an envelope with the hall ticket and his number behind the hall ticket. The student clicked a photo of the official on the sly and attached it to the mail, along with his provisional marksheet and payment slip for the revaluation application. A university official said the allegations made by the student will be ascertained and verified.

Former senate member Pradeep Sawant, also a member of Yuva Sena, gave their representation to the university administration and asked them to act on the complaint at the earliest, failing which they will take their own independent action, he said. Sawant told TOI that the employee in question is a permanent staff member of IDOL. Former members of the senate have been protesting the delay in announcing the results and revaluation for the exams held in summer.