Varsity scam: HC acquits key accused

NAGPUR: The prosecution in the Nagpur University’s infamous marksheet and revaluation scandal suffered a huge setback when the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court set aside lower court conviction of seven in the case including three key accused.

Three key accused let off by the HC are former dean of engineering faculty Hemant Thakre, scrutiniers Madhukar Smarth and Shyam Kalamkar. Their convictions were quashed along with those of four beneficiary students. The court also directed the university to return their degrees of the students.

The court said the prosecution had failed to prove the charges. This verdict continues the trend of acquittals seen in the scam-related cases since the removal of R P Joshi as special public prosecutor. The four beneficiary students acquitted are Rajendra Yadav, Anil Gupta, Mohammed Ishaq and Shailesh Tupkari.

Additionally, the scam kingpin Yadav Kohchade and scrutinier Prabhakar Hejib were convicted in only one case and their sentences were also reduced from twelve and half years to five and half years.

The verdict from single-judge bench of Justice R C Chavan on appeals of beneficiary students and others. Only one student Laxmikant Zade, along with Kohchade and Hejib, was found guilty. The HC has absolved Ishaq of all charges but held Kohchade guilty while reducing his sentenced to five and half years.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Nagpur/Varsity_scam_HC_acquits_key_ac...