NAGPUR: In a setback to the Special Task Force (STF) probing the multi-crore scholarship scam in Maharashtra colleges, the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court on Wednesday granted interim stay on a police complaint lodged against two city colleges.
A division bench comprising justice Bhushan Dharmadhikari and justice Swapna Joshi restrained police officials from any coercive action against the two college managements till further orders. Bharat Tokalwar, president of Bhandara-based Dhyandeep Bahuddeshiya Shikshan Sanstha, which runs Vivekanand Mahavidyalaya, and Shashikant Jambhulkar, president of Village Care Society, which manages National College of Professional Studies, had filed criminal applications praying for quashing of FIR against them.
The petitioners had approached the judiciary through counsels Firdos Mirza and Anand Deshpande after Bajaj Nagar and Jaripatka police stations respectively lodged FIRs against them following complaints from students.
Vishal Mate had lodged a FIR against Vivekanand Mahavidyalaya on January 3 for allegedly siphoning off Rs1.40 lakh scholarship fund of two students, including him. The complaint against National College of Professional Studies was filed by Roshan Karwade for allegedly taking Rs22,500 in the name of his scholarships on January 4.
Both petitioners, along with other officials of their colleges, were booked under Sections 420, 406, 469 and 120B. Interestingly, both students had been advised by the STF headed by Nagpur commissioner of police K Venkatesh, to lodge the FIRs.
