The committee's decision to give remission to students whose ``degree of crime'' is less saw Modi engaged in heated discussions with the members of the group that dominates the Syndicate. Himself considered a member of the group, Modi walked out of the hall saying leniency could not be shown selectively. He said changes in the rules had exposed members to pressure from politicians and other influential groups in the university. He was backed by the Hoshang Mirza group members, who are a minority.

In fact, the minority group was able to force the meeting to revise the punishment handed out to a few students, who benefited from the new rules. The group was able to prove that the remission given to them was not fair. Modi said the university was not setting a good precedent by allowing committee members to be subjective in deciding on punishment.

The meeting did not discuss the report submitted to the university by retired justice M K Desai who probed the leakage of an MBA question paper, as it was not listed on the agenda. The report, sources said, has not found anyone guilty.