Bihar Info panel asks varsity for details of Mohali SP’s ‘forged’ graduation certificate

The State Information Commission of Bihar has ordered Magadh University, Bodhgaya, to give "correct information" on the graduation degree certificate of a superintendent of police posted in Punjab. The commission acted on the application of an inspector also posted in Punjab.

The applicant, Anil Kumar Bhanot, posted as inspector at Ludhiana, had complained to the Information commission that Parampal Singh Gandhi, now posted as Mohali City II as Superintendent of Police, had "forged his graduation certificate, claimed to have been obtained from Magadh University, Bodhgaya".

Gandhi, who became an inspector in 1993, was elevated to the post of SP last year. Gandhi had earlier faced investigations on similar charges in 2000 and was suspended last July. His suspension, however, was revoked this January after the Punjab government gave him a clean chit saying that there was no need for repeated inquiries for similar allegations.

The SP in question, Parampal Singh Gandhi, said he passed his two-year-course on bachelor of arts from Kisan College, Sohsarai (Nalanda) under Magadh University. He said that though his academic session was 1987-89, the final examination was held in September 1991 and he was awarded his degree in 1993. His degree bears the signature of "J Ahmed" as VC of Magadh University.

The applicant Anil Kumar Bhanot, however, told the State Information of Bihar, that he received "contradictory" information from MU authorities with a 2007 letter saying Gandhi was not "a student of the said college" and a 2011 letter saying that Gandhi appeared in the 1991 examination.

The applicant Bhanot reasoned before the Information Commission that if Magadh University wrote to the Punjab police about Gandhi's degree being valid, why are the same universities authorities now saying otherwise.

Bhanot said, "The very signature of 'J Ahmed' as VC shows the fraud as Magadh University never had any VC by that name when Gandhi claimed to have obtained the graduation degree. Second, sociology, one of the subjects Gandhi claimed to have studied as one of his BA papers, was not included in Kisan College till 1991".

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