Shillong, Feb 22: The Chancellor of the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM), Mahbubul Hoque was arrested by the Special Task Force (STF) of the Assam police from his residence in Guwahati’s Ghoramara around 1:30 am today.
The arrest is in connection with a case registered in Assam’s Sribhumi, following allegations of exam malpractice in a school run by ERD Foundation, whose chairman is Haque.
A group of students from Goalpara, who claimed to be part of the ‘Vision 50’ program run by ERD Foundation, alleged that they were promised assistance in the 30-mark MCQ section of their CBSE Class 12 exam at Central Public School, Patharkandi. However, when the assistance was not provided, it led to chaos and vandalism.
Following the arrest, USTM has not released an official statement, and the credentials of the students claiming to be from Vision 50 Academy cannot be independently verified yet.
Assam Education Minister Ranoj Pegu tweeted that Hoque’s arrest is based on the incident of vandalism at Central Public School, where a case has been registered in Patharkandi.
“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,” minister Pegu said in a post 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,… pic.twitter.com/wQ11ArS2nn
— Ranoj Pegu (@ranojpeguassam) February 21, 2025
“The school is owned by Education Research and Development Foundation which runs several educational institutes, including USTM. The ERDF was founded by Haque” Pegu said.
Sources say Hoque was taken away by the police from his residence in Ghoramara in Guwahati at around 1:30 AM. His wife later visited Panbazar Police Station, but the family has not commented on the incident.
There has been no official statement by the police on the reasons of his arrest.
Congress leader from Assam Ripun Bora has condemned the arrest. “I strongly condemned the arrest of USTM Chancellor Mahbubul Hoque at midnight by Assam Police. From past few months, Assam CM has been attacking Mr. Hoque, a renowned educationist from the North East, for his vested interests” he said.
I strongly condemned the arrest of USTM Chancellor Mahbubul Haque at midnight by Assam Police.
From past few months, Assam CM @himantabiswa has been attacking Mr. Haque, a renowned educationist from the North East, for his vested interests. @USTMeghalaya comes under the…
— Ripun Bora (@ripunbora) February 22, 2025
He said USTM comes under the Government of Meghalaya and all the academic matters of USTM come under UGC then why is the Chief Minister of Assam making it a personal and political vendetta? By doing this the CM is trying to completely destroy a premier educational institution of the North East” he said.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had accused the private institution of massive fraud, issuing fake degrees, and financial misconduct. His remarks come amid growing concerns over the recent termination of employees at the university.
Sarma pulled no punches, directly targeting USTM Chancellor Mahbubul Hoque. “The head of USTM himself is a fraud. The entire system is fraudulent, and the institution has been issuing fake certificates to students,” he alleged.
The Chief Minister went a step further, questioning the authenticity of Hoque’s own credentials. “Even his caste certificate is fake. How can our intellectuals praise someone who holds a false OBC certificate?” he asked.
Categorically rejecting the allegations, USTM asserted that such statements not only tarnish the reputation of a credible educational institution but also demoralize thousands of students, faculty members, and researchers dedicated to academic excellence.
“We urge the Assam Chief Minister to engage in a fact-based discourse and acknowledge USTM’s contributions to higher education,” the university stated. “We remain steadfast in our mission to serve the nation through quality education, research, and social empowerment. Furthermore, we welcome any inquiry or investigation by any authority to cross-verify our credentials.”
