Maharashta govt orders forensic audit of SPPU, SNDT & YCMOU amid scrutiny demands

Pune: The Maharashtra higher and technical education department has ordered forensic audits of three major state universities, including Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU), placing their financial and administrative functioning under detailed scrutiny.

SPPU will undergo a nine-year audit from 2017-18 to 2025-26, while SNDT Women’s University and Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University (YCMOU) will be audited for the five-year period from 2021-22 to 2025-26.

The move follows repeated demands from SPPU senate members for an independent probe into financial transactions, project expenditure, procurement and administrative decisions. A govt circular issued on Tuesday directed director of higher education Shailendra Deolankar to oversee the process and submit a report on further action.

As per the circular, Mukund M Chitale & Co has been appointed to audit SPPU and given 45 days to submit its report. Choice Consultancy Services Pvt Ltd will audit SNDT Women’s University, while Kirtane & Pandit LLP has been tasked with auditing YCMOU, both within 30 days.

The audit period at SPPU spans the tenure of former vice-chancellor Nitin Karmalkar and current vice-chancellor Suresh Gosavi. SNDT Women’s University is headed by vice-chancellor Ujjwala Chakradeo, and YCMOU by Sanjeev Sonawane.

The 23-point audit framework includes examination of revenue, expenditure, funds management, admissions, examinations, research activities and overall administration. The auditors will probe potential irregularities such as fake employees, unauthorised payments, misuse of grants, scholarship discrepancies, exam irregularities, manipulation of records, fake certificates and undisclosed bank accounts.

The scope also covers fee collection, salaries, procurement, infrastructure spending, research funding, student welfare schemes and utilisation of central grants.