Chennai: Even as the directorate of vigilance and anti-corruption (DVAC) started to grill the engineering graduates in connection with the revaluation scam, the Anna University on Friday suspended three faculty members including professor G.V. Uma, former Controller of Examinations (CoE), after finding evidence against them.
While speaking to reporters, Anna University Vice-Chancellor M.K. Surappa said, “There is overwhelming evidence against professor Uma, proving her involvement at different levels in the scam. Our internal inquiry committee also found evidence against other two faculty members P.Vijayakumar and R.Sivakumar from University College of Engineering Tindivanam as well. The other seven members named in FIR are not our faculty members.”
The university has formed a four-member committee to investigate scandals in an evaluation of answer scripts at the controller of examinations office. “After assuming office in April, I received several complaints regarding the malpractices in revaluation. To verify the allegations we formed the committee in May,” he said.
“As soon as the committee started the investigation, they found that the extent of malpractices is much deeper than what it was thought of and the web of the whole network of people involved in the scam,” Mr.Surappa told this paper.
The committee has looked at all the malpractices that happened in examinations during 2015 to 2018 the period in which Uma was holding the post of controller of examinations. "It is almost finished its inquiry and very soon it will submit its report. We will place it before our syndicate committee for further action," he added.
After conducting searches, the DVAC registered a case against former Controller of Examinations G.V. Uma and nine others on Tuesday for allegedly taking the bribe to boost the students' marks in revaluation.
As many as 3,02,380 students have applied for revaluation in April/May 2017 out of which 73,733 students have passed and 16,636 students improved their marks in the process. The FIR alleged that G.V. Uma, who was the controller of examinations (CoE) post from 2015 to 2018 had conspired with assistant professor P.Vijayakumar (former zone co-ordinator) and R.Sivakumar (former zonal officer) and others to boost the marks after getting a bribe of Rs.10,000.
While conducting the raids, the DVAC allegedly seized several answer scripts from residents of the accused. Sources said it was revealed that a student who got only 7 out of 100 was given 74 marks out of 100 after revaluation.
Sources in the Anna University said, "In many cases, the students who paid the bribe can hire a scribe or write the answers himself in new answer scripts. These new scripts were evaluated during the revaluation and higher marks were awarded. They would obviously get higher marks even in the second revaluation which is mandated after a 15% increase."
Many of the affiliated college faculty members who were earning very low salary were lured into the scam. "The wards of politicians, IAS and IPS officers have got their degrees through the influence and revaluation. Particularly, the old students with many arrears cleared their papers by paying the bribe," sources alleged.
When enquired whether Anna University would dig up the malpractices in revaluation happened in the last 10 years, Mr Surappa said, "It's impossible to enquire all the students who have left the university. Now, it is my duty to stem this rot. So I am taking all the steps to ensure that these things are not repeated."
