Hindustan Times (Delhi)

Tn-based varsity yet to reply on fake degree allegation, says DU

- HT Correspond­ent htreporter­s@hindustant­imes.com

NEW DELHI: Officials of the Delhi University (DU) on Tuesday said despite sending a reminder to Tamil Nadu’s Thiruvallu­var University, they have not received a response from that varsity clarifying the veracity of the Delhi Students’ Union (DUSU) president Ankiv Baisoya’s degree, which was allegedly obtained from that university.

A row had erupted soon after his election as DUSU president, after Congress-backed National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) alleged that Baisoya had used a fake degree to obtain admission to DU.

Last week, vice-chancellor of Thiruvallu­var University had reportedly written to the Tamil Nadu state principal secretary of education confirming that Baisoya had never been their student.

KT Saroa, head of the Delhi University’s department of Buddhist Studies, where Baisoya is presently enrolled, said on Tuesday, his office has sent a letter to the Thiruvallu­var University registrar to confirm the authentici­ty of the DUSU President’s degree.

“We are yet to receive a response from them. We cannot use the documents submitted to media or any other authority. We tried to reach out to them through emails but the registrar has removed his contact details from the university’s website,” he said.

Despite several attempts, both Thiruvallu­var University vicechance­llor K Murugan and regis- trar V Peruvallut­hi did not respond to calls and messages.

The registrar, on October 3, had confirmed that he had written to the Tamil Nadu principal secretary saying, “Ankiv Baisoya has not enrolled either our university or in any of our constituen­t or affiliated colleges and is not our student at all. The certificat­e he has produced was a fake and not from our university.”

Baisoya, a member of the RSSaffilia­ted Akhil Bharatiya Vidhyarthi Parishad (ABVP), had claimed he had studied at Thiruvallu­var University from 2013 to 2016.

Within days of him being elected DUSU president on September 13, the NSUI alleged that he submitted fake documents to obtain admission to a Masters programme in DU. They circuThe NSUI, however, alleged lated what they claimed was Baithat the DU is making excuses to soya’s bachelor’s degree along help the ABVP leader. with a letter from the Tamil Nadu Meanwhile, members of leftUniver­sity that said it was a fake. backed All India Students AssociBais­oya has denied the allegaatio­n (AISA) announced a protest tions. in DU’S North Campus on Thurs

The NSUI said the university is day.

“deliberate­ly delaying” the proc“The Thiruvallu­var Univeress by not considerin­g the letters sity’s response is public now. that the Thiruvallu­var UniverWhat is the university waiting for sity had sent to the students’ now? Now they have no reason to group. delay it. We can’t let ourselves be

Saroa said the due process does ruled by a DUSU president who not allow them to act on the conhas committed a crime,” AISA firmations received by any other DU president Kawalpreet Kaur authority. “They should have said. written to us rather than writing While Baisoya could not be to the education secretary or the reached for a comment, ABVP’S media. Only then we will be able national spokespers­on Monica to report the matter to the police Arora said they will take any and take the process forward. We decision only after the DU conare helpless right now,” he said. firms the allegation­s.

 ?? MOHD ZAKIR/HT FILE ?? Congressba­cked NSUI has alleged that DUSU president Ankiv Baisoya (second from left) had used a fake degree to obtain admission to Delhi University.
MOHD ZAKIR/HT FILE Congressba­cked NSUI has alleged that DUSU president Ankiv Baisoya (second from left) had used a fake degree to obtain admission to Delhi University.

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