In a major breakthrough in the ongoing investigation into the Rs3.31 crore scam at Bhatkhande Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya, the CB-CID on Tuesday arrested two senior professors:
Professor Manoj Mishra – Head of the Tabla Department
Professor Gyanendra Dutt Bajpai – Head of the Bharatanatyam Department
The two are accused of facilitating illegal appointments and construction-related corruption during the tenure of former Vice-Chancellor Shruti Sadolikar Katkar. They have been remanded to 14-day judicial custody.
Meanwhile, the alleged mastermind of the scam — administrative officer Ramkumar — has absconded along with his girlfriend, triggering a multi-location search by CB-CID teams. Shockingly, Ramkumar, who allegedly acted as the scam’s “manager,” is reportedly only educated up to fifth grade, raising serious questions about recruitment and oversight at the state-run cultural university.
The case traces back to 2017–2018, when university contracts worth crores were awarded without following mandatory tender procedures. The FIR lodged at Kaiserbagh Police Station names former VC Shruti Sadolikar Katkar, Ramkumar, and other officials, accusing them of misusing power to benefit 12 contractors, including:
Anjali Traders
Usha Associates
Sai Kripa Trading Corporation
Seven contractors from the implicated firms have already been jailed.
The scam first came to light in 2020, after a complaint reached Governor Anandiben Patel, prompting her to order Katkar’s removal. Though she was arrested by CB-CID, she was later released due to a stay order on her arrest.
CB-CID officials confirmed that the investigation is ongoing, with more arrests likely as evidence is collected against firms and insiders linked to the fraudulent scheme.
