Mumbai Students Say Their Futures Were Shattered After Enrolling in Allegedly Fake Degree Courses
A Mumbai court has denied anticipatory bail to Sunil Magdum, the principal of Dr Baliram Hiray College of Architecture, in a case that has left several students worried about their careers, education, and future opportunities.
The case revolves around allegations that students were admitted into vocational degree courses linked to universities that were later found to be unrecognised. Many students now fear that the years they spent studying — along with the money their families invested — may have gone to waste.
While rejecting Magdum’s plea, the sessions court observed that the alleged fraud had seriously affected students and caused emotional as well as academic suffering. The court also noted that investigators suspect the involvement of more people in the matter and said custodial interrogation was necessary to uncover the full extent of the alleged scam.
The complaint was filed by student Nidhi Rait, who claimed that students were encouraged to join a Bachelor of Vocation interior design course after being told that the programme was affiliated with Sangai International University and recognised by the UGC.
Students reportedly paid nearly Rs 80,000 annually in fees for the 2022–23 and 2023–24 sessions, believing the degrees would help them secure jobs and higher education opportunities. They were also allegedly promised internships and placement support.
However, according to the complaint, students later discovered through official notices that Sangai International University was allegedly “self-styled and unrecognised,” meaning the degrees carried no valid recognition for employment or further studies.
The complaint further alleged that even after questions were raised about recognition, the institute continued enrolling students without fully informing them about the issue. Students also claimed they never received the promised internships, exams and results were repeatedly delayed, and later the institute claimed association with Sikkim International University, which students allegedly found to be unrecognised as well.
Serious concerns were also raised regarding marksheets and examination records. According to the complaint, several documents contained irregularities such as inconsistent marks, missing seals and signatures, and questionable formatting that left students doubtful about their authenticity.
In his defence, Magdum denied wrongdoing and called the FIR baseless. He argued that once the college became aware of issues surrounding Sangai International University’s recognition, efforts were made to help students by coordinating with other institutions. He also maintained that marksheets were issued by the universities and not directly by him.
Investigators, however, told the court that custody was needed to understand how the alleged fake documents were created, track the money involved, and identify anyone else connected to the operation. Police also argued that granting bail at this stage could affect evidence and hamper the investigation.
For many students and parents, the case is more than just a legal battle — it is about lost time, broken trust, and uncertainty about the future after investing years in courses they believed would build stable careers.
News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
