MUMBAI: The principal and a senior clerk of St Joseph’s High School , Agripada , were trapped by the Anti-Corruption Bureau ( ACB ) city unit on Friday, accepting Rs 2,000 from a parent for handing over an SSC marksheet and a leaving certificate.

The school was earlier under the scanner in March 2013 when the education department had sent a notice to it for denying class IX report cards to those who did not pay Rs 1,500 as development and activities fund.

The ACB booked principal Sister Lovena Almeida and clerk Victorian Barett under the Prevention of Corruption Act and are seeking legal opinion and permission from the education department on their arrest. It said the school officials can be booked under the Act as it gets government grants. ACB sources said there were many similar complaints from parents.

Additional commissioner of police (ACB) Vishwas Nangre Patil said, “The student wanted her marksheet and leaving certificate as she was seeking admission to a college. The school told her parents that they would get the documents only if they paid Rs 2,000 towards the fund.’’

The parents complained to the ACB, which recorded the conversation of the principal demanding the money and telling the parents to hand it over to the clerk.

The parents had approached the education department, which had written to the school to give the documents by June 27. But the parents said the school gave only marksheets on Friday. Over 150 students passed class X from the school this year.

The principal was not available for comment despite repeated attempts. Fr George Athaide, secretary, Archdiocesan Board of Education, which governs the school, told TOI he was unaware of the incident but would look into it and initiate appropriate action. An education official said, “The aided school cannot charge students apart from tuition fees .”

The ACB has requested people to report such malpractices/misconduct on 2921212 or acbwebmail@mahapolice.gov.in

