Discussion on TET scam to continue as govt retreats | Nagpur News

April 3, 2026 Headlinesnews

3 min readNagpurDec 22, 2022 03:44 AM IST

Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar on Wednesday disallowed discussion on the alleged Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) scam, citing it sub-judice, leading to a confrontation in the House on Wednesday. With the Opposition intent on pursuing the matter, the Speaker kept the question on the issue pending. It will will now be taken up again later.

Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar raised the issue during Question Hour, demanding to know relatives of which minister, MLA and officials cleared the test and in case of malpractices, how many individuals have faced action. While no names were mentioned inside the Assembly, Agriculture Minister Abdul Sattar’s name has found mention in connection to the TET scam. Sattar, however, has denied that his daughters benefitted due to the scam.

In his reply, School Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar told the House that as the matter is sub-judice, it will not be appropriate for him to comment on it. This led to protests from the Opposition, which argued that the legislature is supreme and a matter being sub-judice cannot stop the legislature from discussing any issue.

Former Assembly speaker and NCP MLA Dilip Walse-Patil said that though the Maharashtra-Karnataka border dispute is pending with the Supreme Court, Karnataka Assembly has still passed a resolution on it. “Even we are discussing the matter. Are you saying we shouldn’t discuss?” he asked.

Former CM and Congress MLA Ashok Chavan reminded the Speaker about Chief Minister Eknath Shinde making a statement over the allegations against him in the alleged NIT land scam on Tuesday. “Even that matter was sub-judice, but you allowed the ruling side to make a statement while ignoring the Opposition. Are you stopping the Opposition specifically?” he asked.

Ajit Pawar also slammed the ruling side for cutting short his question in a printed booklet distributed in the House. “How can my question be cut short? I had asked about kin of ministers, officials and MLAs who benefited from this scam. Is this an attempt to safeguard anyone?” he asked.

Narvekar directed officials to conduct an inquiry and submit a report within two days.

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As the demand to keep the question pending grew, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis requested Narvekar to do the same. The scam was unearthed during an investigation into malpractices in other recruitment exams. After a FIR was registered by the Pune Cyber Police in November 2021, the probe started unravelling a network of corrupt practices in government recruitment exams.

Alok Deshpande is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express’ Mumbai bureau, recognized for his focused and authoritative reporting on governance, politics, and the socio-economic dynamics of Maharashtra’s hinterlands. His unique academic background in Geology and early work in the water sector provides a specialized layer of Expertise to his reporting on resource and environmental issues.
Expertise

Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express, Mumbai.

Core Authority: Alok provides detailed coverage of Maharashtra politics and governance, with a particular emphasis on how policies and power struggles affect the rural and semi-urban areas (the ‘hinterlands’).

Key Coverage Areas: His reports frequently focus on high-stakes administrative and political topics, including:

State Assembly Proceedings: In-depth reporting on the Legislative Assembly, covering ministerial statements, legislative debates, and inter-party conflict within the ruling Mahayuti alliance.

Policy & Finance: Coverage of state finances, including supplementary budget demands, fiscal deficits, and major government schemes (e.g., Jal Jeevan Mission, Ladki Bahin Yojana).

Rural and Social Issues: Reports on critical health issues (e.g., child deaths in districts), human-animal conflict (leopard attacks, stray dogs), and agrarian concerns (e.g., farmer suicides).

Local and Urban Governance: Covers major announcements regarding urban development (e.g., BMC’s OC amnesty scheme, pagdi system push) and local body elections, including political defections and alliance splits.

Unique Credentials & Trustworthiness

Academic Specialization: Holds a Post-graduate degree in Geology. This background gives him a foundational understanding of natural resources, which directly informs his reporting on environment, water, and infrastructure projects.

Early Professional Experience: His shift to journalism came after working with an NGO focused on the water sector. This practical experience strengthens his Expertise in critical areas like water management and rural development, as evidenced by his reporting on the Jal Jeevan Mission.

Journalism Training: An alumnus of the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, confirming his formal training and commitment to rigorous journalistic standards.

Alok Deshpande’s rare combination of scientific education, non-profit sector experience, and deep political reporting makes him a highly trusted and authoritative voice on the governance and ground realities of Maharashtra.
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