Shillong, Feb 22: Chancellor of the University of Science and Technology ( USTM), Mahbubul Haque, was arrested on Saturday morning.
A special task force probing the alleged malpractices at Patharkandi Central Public School arrested him from his Ghoramara (Betapara) in Guwahati around 1.30 am. A case was registered at Karimganj.
The Education Research and Development Foundation (ERDF), which was founded by Haque, owns the school. ERDF also runs several other institutes, including USTM.
Recently at a press conference, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma questioned the validity of degrees provided by the university, which, however, was denied by the USTM as well as the Meghalaya government.
The Meghalaya BJP had sought a probe into the matter.
Assam Cabinet Minister for Higher Education, School Education, Tribal Affairs, wrote on X, “Shocking allegations have surfaced against @ustm_A’s unethical practices in education. Students were reportedly assured assistance in the 30-mark MCQ section of their CBSE Class 12 exams at Central Public School, Patharkandi (owned by the USTM group). Many, mostly from Goalpara, were strategically placed there to gain an unfair advantage in exams. When external invigilators refused to comply, chaos ensued—teachers were locked inside, prompting police intervention. This serious violation of academic integrity demands an urgent and thorough investigation.”
