The university came under fire from student groups, which argued that it was deliberately delaying matters to favour the ABVP, to which Baisoya belongs. The Delhi High Court Monday extended Delhi University’s deadline to probe the alleged fake marksheet of DU Students’ Union (DUSU) president Ankiv Baisoya till November 20, as the university was unable to complete its probe by November 12. The university came under fire from student groups, which argued that it was deliberately delaying matters to favour the ABVP, to which Baisoya belongs. “The DUSU election process and its aftermath underscore the complete institutional capture of DU by the BJP and its affiliates. After disregarding blatant on-record violence by ABVP VP candidate Shakti Singh and mysteriously malfunctioning EVMs, DU admin is trying to procrastinate and deliberately delay the verification of Baisoya’s fake certificate, so that the period of two months from the day of declaration of election result could pass, and re-election deliberately avoided to unduly benefit the ABVP,” said All India Congress Committee in-charge of NSUI, Ruchi Gupta. According to the Lyngdoh Committee Recommendations, a re-election can only take place if the office of any major office-bearer falls vacant within two months of the election results being announced. When contacted, Buddhist Studies head of department, K T S Sarao, said: “I spoke to the Controller of Examination (Thiruvalluvar University) two-three times today, and he said he would respond to my letter by the end of the day — on whether the degree is fake or not. I haven’t received it till now, but he promised… so I’m hopeful by tomorrow, the information will be sent.” However, CoE B Senthilkumar told The Indian Express, “I spoke to the HoD, but I told him that I had received two applications without the fee, and asked him to send the fee along with the application. I didn’t promise anything, I only said we would try to complete the process as soon as possible once we receive the fee.” NSUI’s Gupta added: “The only purpose being served by these dilatory tactics is to shred the credibility of the DU administration. Even as per the Lyngdoh guidelines, the date of removal will commence from when the fake certificate from Thiruvalluvar University first came to light, not when DU administration disqualifies — or is forced to disqualify by the judiciary — Baisoya.” “While university authorities should be putting their best foot forward in ensuring a high level of education that DU has been associated with in the past, the authorities are exposing themselves to the interests of thugs and cheats,” she added. Gupta also said the “NSUI is committed to taking the legal proceedings to its logical end”. AISA DU unit president Kawalpreet Kaur said, “It is now clear that the entire administration is working in collusion with the ABVP and BJP. It sounds bizarre that a simple task of verification of degree was not done in two months. We believe that Baisoya’s case was not just of a fake degree, but the bowing down of India’s top university in front of the BJP.” Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti (CYSS) Delhi secretary Hari Om Prabhakar also said, “This is a clear sign that the DU is trying everything to protect ABVP and Baisoya, and avoid re-elections.” ABVP national media convenor Monika Chaudhary, however, said DU has never held re-elections. “It has happened once before that the post of president had fallen vacant, but in that case the VP takes over. There were no re-elections. But we also urge the university to verify his documents and give a clear picture,” she said.