MNS legislator Ram Kadam seeks closure of IIPM

MNS legislator Ram Kadam has written to state home minister RR Patil (on June 20) requesting him to shut down IIPM institute for allegedly cheating students. He has also sought an inquiry into the activities of the institute. Aditya Shirodkar, president MNVS, has written to Rajesh Tope, higher education minister, in this regard.

Kadam has said that IIPM branches in Chandigarh, Pune, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Bhubaneshwar, Indore and Cochin had been shut before courses had been completed. According to him, the institute cheated students by presenting 'distance courses' as full time course. It charged a distance course Rs 4,95,000, while genuine universities charge Rs20,000. The students of 2010-2012 batch had still not got their results.

According to Kadam, IIPM charges Rs12 lakh for its GOTA course and offers to take students abroad. Students are told they would get degree/diploma from IMI Belgium. The MLA said in 2013 authorities in Lucknow had registered a case against the institute for misguiding students.

Higher education authorities have said IMI Belgium is not recognized and its degree not accepted.

Ram Kadam said: "Yes, I have given a letter to home minister and he has assured us that an inquiry would be conducted against the institute."

This reporter visited IIPM to meet dean Abhik Mukherjee, but he was not present. An email sent to him has not elicited a reply. The counselor at IIPM claimed it was an autonomous institute.