Anna University suspends four more for involvement in the cash-for-marks scam

Anna University on Tuesday suspended four faculty members who were allegedly involved in the cash-for-marks scam which encompassed rampant corruption in the re-evaluation system.

Since the scam was uncovered last year, the varsity has suspended 41 staff, including temporary ones, in addition to cancelling the degrees of 137 students who were involved in corruption. S Srinivasulu, K. Selvamony, K Kulothungam and C Pugazehendhi Sugumaran were suspended on Tuesday, a university source said. The varsity had already suspended GV Uma, the then controller of examinations last May.

Vice-Chancellor MK Surappa said the varsity independently confirmed malpractice in the evaluation process and had decided to suspend everyone involved in it. We had set-up a committee to investigate the malpractice. We have been taking action against every person that the committee found to have been involved in the scam, he said. The panel has been collecting overwhelming evidence of the scam.

Corruption was identified only in the re-valuation process and not during the original evaluation, the source said. Students, who scored single digit marks, allegedly scored double-digit marks on first evaluation and even higher marks on the second evaluation. Allotment of dummy numbers to roll numbers are done only at the office of the controller of examinations. A thorough investigation of that office has opened a can of worms and led to several suspensions, the source claimed.