BENGALURU: A private nursing college in the city is under the scanner for allegedly faking its affiliation. The college is already facing an inquiry by the CID for allegedly fabricating documents and creating fake certificates and marks cards. This came to light when some students who got admissions at Bethal Nursing College, in Nandini Layout, applied for educational loans. The bank authorities rejected the applications saying that the college had a fake affiliation certificate from the university concerned.
Following this, students approached Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) seeking intervention in withdrawal of admission, return of documents and refund of fees paid to the college. This is when the university authorities found that the affiliation certificate was fake. The college has about 1,500 students.
Confirming this, RGUHS Vice-Chancellor Dr Sachidanand said, “Yes, the affiliation certificate which is available with the students from the college is fake and my signature has been forged.” The university has now forwarded the case to an internal inquiry committee for further inquiry. “Then, it will be forwarded to the CID,” Sachidanand said. A student from Kerala, who got admission into the college for allied sciences course by paying Rs 4.80 lakh, said, “I had applied for a bank loan and it got rejected.
I then realised that the college had a fake affiliation. There are several students like me who are now in the lurch.”However, dismissing all the allegations, Bethal and Hosmat Group of Institutions Chairman Dr Sunny said, “We have been targeted even though we are following all the rules and falling in line with the university norms.”
Went ahead with admission despite instructions Despite clear instructions from the university, Bethal Nursing College and Hosmat Hospital Educational Institute went ahead and admitted students for the current academic year. Following the decision taken in the Syndicate, the varsity issued a notice to the college management not to admit students as the case was before the CID.
Earlier case details
An Iranian student had filed a complaint with the Iranian Embassy alleging that he was cheated by Bethal Nursing College. RGUHS constituted an internal panel to probe and prima facie proved the violations. The case has been transferred to the CID.
College forged signature
As per documents available with the TNIE, the college apparently created a fake affiliation certificate. The affiliation letter dated January 25, 2018, has the signature of Dr Sachidanand as the registrar. But, he was not the registrar at the time.