Police said that Pushpa hanged herself as she feared she would not be able to pursue education in the science stream in the college of her preference. (Source: File photo) Police said that Pushpa hanged herself as she feared she would not be able to pursue education in the science stream in the college of her preference. (Source: File photo)

A private college in Navi Mumbai will face criminal action for abetting the suicide of a 16-year-old student, said Maharashtra Education Minister Vinod Tawde on Friday.

The deceased, identified as Pushpa Suryavanshi, who had secured 84 per cent in her SSC exams from Kalamboli-based Sudhagad Education Society (SES) where she had been studying since Class VIII, was denied admission into the institute’s junior college section, even though she had paid “fees” to get admission.

Police said that Pushpa hanged herself as she feared she would not be able to pursue education in the science stream in the college of her preference as she had turned down the other admissions she had secured.

Iqbal Inamdar, principal of Sudhagad, has been booked by the Kalamboli police under sections 306 and 420 of the Indian Penal Code. Vasant Osval, Chairman of Sudhagad Education Society, could not be reached for comment.

Following Supreme Court directives, Maharashtra has switched to an online-based admission process for SSC-passed students. Tawde claimed in the Legislative Assembly on Friday that SES authorities had flouted the norm by promising Pushpa an admission at the institute through an offline process. Tawde informed the House that the institute had even collected Rs 20,000 for the berth.

Pushpa ended her life after realising that the offline admission promise was not genuine and she had been duped, Tawde said, adding criminal action would be initiated against the school.

Police investigators said, “Our probe reveals that at least a fortnight ago, this college offered Pushpa a seat on payment of donation. She paid Rs 20,000. But following the state government’s announcement on not permitting offline admissions at all, school authorities summoned Pushpa and informed her that she could not get admission. She was asked to collect her money,” said an investigator.

Watch Video: What’s making news

Tawde said that Pushpa had in fact secured admission at another Kalamboli college but opted not to go for it in the “false hope” of securing a seat at SES.

Around 8 pm on Thursday, Pushpa was found hanging from the ceiling fan by her cousin, with whom she had been staying for the past three years. Probe reveals that Pushpa hailed originally from a village in Sangli but had moved to Navi Mumbai to study.

The police have recovered a one-page handwritten suicide note signed by Pushpa, written in a book in Marathi. The note said she had taken the decision to commit suicide as she did not get admission into the institute of her preference by either online or offline processes. The note stated that no one should be blamed for her death.

Tawde urged the government to hold a detailed investigation into the alleged role of the principal of SES in guaranteeing offline admission and the subsequent cancellation.

Tawde has also requested parents not to fall prey to scamsters offering seats in lieu of money.

Vishwash Pandhare, zonal deputy commissioner of police, said that Kalamboli police is in the process of registering an offence against school authorities.

📣 The Indian Express is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@indianexpress) and stay updated with the latest headlines

For all the latest Mumbai News, download Indian Express App.