Madras varsity forms 5-member panel to probe ‘ghost grad’ scam – Times of India

Chennai: University of Madras has formed a five-member inquiry panel to probe the ghost graduates scam where 117 students were caught trying to get degrees without enrolling in any programme at the Institute of Distance Education. TOI reported the scam on December 22, 2021.
The panel is headed by director of legal studies C Chokkalingam. The other members are B Venugopal, head, department of legal studies, Chitti Annapurna, head, department of Hindi, D Sathiyavan, head (in-charge), department of econometrics, and Elangovan, dean (academic) and head, department of biochemistry.
Except Elangovan, other four members are syndicate members. “The panel commenced its probe on Thursday. It will inquire into how the racket happened, who were responsible and recommend action,” an official said. Based on the committee report, the university will decide whether to file a police complaint.
“At present, the committee will look only into the December 2020 semester exams for distance mode students,” vice-chancellor S Gowri said.
Institute of Distance Education had decided to allow people to write exams who had enrolled for degrees since 1980-81, but didn’t get degrees due to arrears. The racketeers uploaded fake course completion certificates for new students to enable them to write as old students. They paid exam fees and were given serial numbers that followed genuine candidates.
As many as 117 students cleared the exams in December 2020. When they sought degree certificates, the university checked if they paid tuition fees and found no record of this or admission details. Provisional/convocation certificates for 117 candidates were cancelled and their names removed from the permanent pass register.
Sources said each student could have paid up to ₹3 lakh to the racketeers. The tuition fees is ₹20,000.