Maha CM Fadnavis puts on hold minority status granted to 75 schools hours after Ajit Pawar’s death

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis

• Maharashtra CM halts minority status for 75 institutions
• Probe launched into approvals after Ajit Pawar's death
• Officials face action if irregularities in certificates are found

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Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday ordered a stay on minority educational institution status granted to 75 educational institutions after it emerged that the approvals were issued in the immediate aftermath of deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar’s death in a plane crash on January 28.

Ajit Pawar had been handling the minority development portfolio, which is now with newly sworn-in deputy chief minister Sunetra Pawar.

Separately, Sunetra Pawar has directed officials to investigate allegations of irregular minority certificate approvals and ensure firm action if any violations are established.

According to officials cited by PTI, 75 institutions were granted minority status between January 28 and February 2. The first certificate was reportedly issued at 3.09 pm on January 28, the day Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash. Seven institutions received approvals that day, with the total rising to 75 over the next three days.

According to sources cited in the report, the chief minister has directed authorities to put all approvals, grants and certifications on hold granted during the specified period pending a comprehensive assessment.

A top-level probe has been launched to determine the manner in which the files were processed, whether established procedures were adhered to, and whether an earlier freeze on minority certificates had been formally lifted.

A senior bureaucrat said a complete report tracing the sequence of decisions has been requested. "If any irregularity or procedural lapse is found, stern action will be taken against those responsible," he was quoted.

NCP (SP) leader Rohit Pawar said that granting a stay on the minority status of educational institutes is not sufficient, calling for strict action against those responsible. He demanded an investigation, claiming that officials exploited the absence of Ajit Pawar to push the decisions.

Rohit, in an X post, alleged that some officials in Mantralaya took bribes of around Rs 25 lakh per certificate while issuing minority status approvals.

Calling it a matter affecting the government's credibility and reputation, Rohit urged the government to conduct a detailed inquiry and take stringent action against the officials involved in the alleged conspiracy.

The issue surfaced after reports indicated that several approvals were issued after regular office hours and that multiple institutions belonging to the same educational groups were granted minority status in a day.

State minority commission chairman Pyare Khan, meanwhile, termed the episode "deeply disturbing" and called for accountability, including a high-level inquiry and a CID probe.

"Granting minority status to 75 institutions within such a short span raises serious questions. The entire process must be examined thoroughly. If any irregularity is found, strict action should be taken against the officials responsible, and a CID probe must be conducted," Khan said.