Agartala: June 29: The Crime Investigation Department (CID) and Assam police have apprehended eight individuals in connection with allegations of irregularities in an ongoing marksheet scam involving authorities at Gauhati University.
The suspects were arrested from various parts of the state, including Guwahati, Kalgachia in Barpeta, and Dhubri. Among those arrested are Azizul Haque, Krishan Krishnamurti, Ismail Hussain, Alomgir Khan, Moinul Haque, Hamezuddin, Abul Baser, Aminul Islam, and Shivtosh Mahato.
Krishan Krishnamurti, an employee at Gauhati University, Shivtosh Mahato from Dhubri Law College, and Aminul Islam, a librarian at a college in Barpeta’s Langla, are among the arrestees.
Earlier, the Postgraduate Students’ Union of Gauhati University raised allegations of irregularities, claiming that university authorities involved in answer booklet evaluation and mark updation engaged in illicit practices by manipulating marks on students’ final mark sheets in exchange for monetary benefits.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed concern about the gravity of the matter. According to him, individuals managing the computerized marksheet system at Gauhati University artificially inflated marks for certain students in return for money.
The university’s student union stated, “The entire scam is being orchestrated from Gauhati University. Employees of various departments are involved. In the name of mark sheet evaluation, they increase students’ marks in exchange for cash.”
They further revealed that lifting a backlog in one subject costs Rs 16,000, while lifting backlogs in four subjects costs Rs 1 lakh. A network of intermediaries reportedly exists at every institution under Gauhati University, with some students also implicated in the scam.
When re-evaluation applications are received, certain authorities allegedly increase marks for money instead of properly rechecking the papers.
The scam came to light when forged marks for Azizul Haque, a sixth-year undergraduate student at Ganeshlal Chaudhary College (GLC College) in Barpeta Road, were detected.
The Assam Police’s CID is handling the investigation, with six related cases identified so far. CM Sarma assured that efforts will continue to uncover similar scams in other universities.
