Information obtained under the Right To Information Act showed that five acres of Bombay University’s Kalina campus in Bombay had been leased to Siddhesh Enterprises for eight months for Rs. 75 lakh when the varsity’s expert committee had recommended charging Rs. 3 lakh per acre for the first month, and Rs. 4 lakh an acre from the second month onwards. Parking charges were also to be levied for the make-up van and generator van, but they were completely waived.
According to activist Anil Galgali, “Documents made available showed that the vice chancellor gave a discount of upto 50% on the rent in complete disregard of the recommendations of the in-house committee.” The activist wants an inquiry committee to be constituted to determine who benefitted from this deal. He also demanded that the governor, the chief minister and the education minister take legal action against the varsity officials concerned, for causing financial loss to the University.