Pune: The ‘Prajakta Pethkar Education Trust’, which successfully led the fee hike battle against VIBGYOR School in Pune, agitated at the office of Deputy Director of Education Dinkar Temkar on Monday as an alleged ‘clerical error’ by Assistant Director of Education Minakshi Raut has led to closure of an FIR against the school. The Kondhwa Police station closed the FIR.
The Education Department authorities have been ordered to hold an inquiry into the matter and submit a detailed report by Friday.
The FIR was reportedly the first in the state where action was taken against a school by the Education Department since the Fee Regulation Act, 2011 came into picture, after the parents fought for the cause for at least three years.
“The FIR on VIBGYOR Magarpatta was filed by the Deputy Director of Education Ramchandra Jadhav on March 31, and the FIR on VIBGYOR NIBM was filed by Dhanaji Butte, who was authorised by Jadhav on April 5. Jadhav was moved out right after the FIRs were lodged, and Temkar was yet to join back after his month-long leave. Meanwhile, Meenakshi Raut took over as Deputy Director. During this period, Butte and Raut gave statements/documents to the Investigating Officer (Kondhwa Police Station) which were contradicting the FIR,” said Prajakta Pethkar, Trust Chairperson.
On questioning, Raut said she was unaware of the contents of the document, and Butte got her to sign them in a hurry. She has issued a notice to Butte asking for an explanation. Also, she has sent the corrected document to the IO.
However, amidst all the chaos, the IO Police Inspector Pachorkar stopped the investigation based on the documents without obtaining any documents from the parents and without taking the audit report of the school into consideration.
The protesting parents have demanded Butte’s immediate suspension and for an FIR against him and his accomplices. Also, the trust has demanded that this case be handed over to the CID.
Following the agitation, State Education Commissioner Vishal Solanki ordered an inquiry into the matter and has demanded a detailed report by Friday.