The anti-corruption branch of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested Balasubramanian, president of Sri Balaji Society which runs a chain of management, law and degree institutions on charges of cheating the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) for getting its approval to the society's four management institutes. Three AICTE officials are also under investigation for allegedly helping Balasubramanian secure the council's approval despite not meeting the parameters as found by the CBI after an on-site inspection of the society's academic complex located at Tathawade on the Katraj-Dehu road expressway bypass. CBI's superintendent of police (ACB) Vidya Kulkarni told reporters that the society had secured the AICTE's approval for four institutions Balaji Institute of International Business (BIIB), Balaji Institute of Modern Management (BIMM), Balaji Institute of Telecom Management (BITM) and Balaji Institute of Management and HRD (BIMHRD) despite lacking in infrastructure and essential facilities like computer labs and libraries.All these institutions were being run from only two buildings as against the mandatory separate four buildings that was claimed by the society before the AICTE, said Kulkarni. Kulkarni informed that the hostel buildings on the campus were transformed into academic premises for Balaji College of Law, Balaji College of Arts, Commerce and Science and Bajaji Junior College of Arts, Commerce and Science. The BIMM was offering distance-learning programmes without approval from regulatory authority the Distance Education Council of India. But, Balasubramanian's lawyer S K Jain has denied all the charges made by the CBI against him. "We have brought to the court's notice that the Prevention of Corruption Act was not applicable in the instant case as Balasubramanian is not a public servant." Jain explained, "The question of cheating AICTE does not arise as the society has already paid a monetary penalty to the council on the student strength issue. The penalty wouldn't have been imposed if the AICTE was to be cheated. The AICTE norms require 2.5 acres of land for each institution and we have already furnished the 7/12 extracts (revenue documents relating to land title) for 12.5 acres of land." According to Kulkarni, Balasubramanian is further charged with the unauthorised use of the word 'Indian' in the naming of four institutions. He also used the names and photographs of a former chief election commissioner, the chiefs of Army, Navy and Air Force and several Lt Generals and Maj Generals, claiming they were patrons of Balaji Society.Balasubramanian was picked up by a CBI team from the Tathawade campus at 5.50 pm on Monday and was booked under IPC section 120 (conspiracy) read with 420 (cheating) and sections 13(2) and 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. He was referred to the Yashwant Rao Chavan Memorial Hospital for a health check-up in view of his medical history of high blood pressure, diabetes and heart condition.Late on Tuesday afternoon, the CBI produced Balasubramanian before special judge (CBI) Arvind Rohi at the Shivajinagar district court and appealed for his custodial remand. After a brief proceeding, the court announced Balasubramanian's custodial remand till December 11.
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