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After vehement assurance of probe into Shikshan trust working, things yet to move

The trust runs prestigious educational institutions, such as Ruia college, Poddar college, and Welingkar institute, in the city.

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State education minister Vinod Tawde's announcement of conducting a detailed inquiry into allegations of malpractice in the workings of the Shikshan Prasarak Mandali trust is turning out to be an eyewash. It has been almost 15 days since the announcement and there's been no visible progress in this regard.

The trust runs prestigious educational institutions, such as Ruia college, Poddar college, and Welingkar institute, in the city.

dna and Zee Media had extensively reported on the alleged malpractices of the trust and its member Dr Uday Salunkhe, who allegedly illicitly amassed assets worth of Rs106 crore in a short period.

On May 2, in a press conference, Tawde had said that he had instructed his department to conduct a probe into the allegations. "If any other aspects of the alleged malpractices are brought to our notice, we will look into them too," he had reiterated.

A few days ago, in a press conference at Mantralaya, even chief minister Devendra Fadnavis was asked about the progress in the probe, but he refused to comment.

The visible inaction by the government and its ministers has raised many questions, creating doubts over their intention to conduct an inquiry into the trust.

Sources said Tawde has developed a habit of immediately announcing inquiries into controversial matters to cool things down. "Once the matter is sidelined, the announcement is swept under the rug. There seems to be a nexus... Mr Tawde must answer what vested interest he has (in not conducting an inquiry). He is supposed to expose this dubious practice, not protect it," said a source.

Despite attempts, Tawde remained unavailable for comment.

The income tax department too had expressed surprise over Salunkhe's meteoric rise. Son of a textile mill worker, he had joined Welingkar institute in 1995 on a meagre salary. He now owns assets worth Rs106 crore.
His property includes a Honda Accord, a sedan, which his wife drives, a duplex garden terrace flat in Mahim and two bungalows in Lonavala.

On November 20, 2010, the I-T department had conducted raids at 36 places, seizing computer records and other details from Salunkhe and his subordinates from the Welingkar institute.

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