In a late-night operation on Friday, February 21, a joint team of Assam Police and the Special Task Force (STF) apprehended Mahbubul Hoque, the Chancellor of the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM), at his residence in Ghoramara, Guwahati, according to a report by Assam Tribune.
Mahbubul Hoque’s arrest is reportedly connected to allegations of his involvement in facilitating unfair practices during the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class XII Physics examination at a school in Sribhumi. The controversy emerged after reports revealed that 274 students sat for the exam at Kendriya Vidyalaya in the district, with 214 of them allegedly linked to the Education Research & Development Foundation (ERD) Group, an organization founded by Hoque.
It has been alleged that students were promised assistance in answering the 30-mark multiple-choice question (MCQ) section of the exam at Central Public School, Patharkandi, which is affiliated with the USTM group.
According to Education Minister Ranoj Pegu, “Many students, mostly from Goalpara, were strategically placed at the exam center to gain an unfair advantage. When external invigilators refused to comply with the arrangement, chaos broke out—teachers were locked inside, prompting police intervention,” he stated in a social media post.
One student, speaking to the media, revealed, “We had been waiting for assistance during the examination at Central Public School. While local students taking the same exam were provided answers for the MCQs, we—students who traveled over 400 km—were denied the assistance that had been promised by the authorities.”
After receiving multiple complaints, authorities initiated an investigation that ultimately led to Hoque’s arrest. He was taken to Panbazar Police Station for questioning, where his wife was also present. The family has yet to release any public statements concerning the arrest.
Officials have indicated that more details may surface as the investigation progresses. Hoque is currently being transported to Sribhumi for further questioning. Meanwhile, Karimganj Superintendent of Police (SP) PP Das has not yet provided any comment on the issue.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has made serious allegations against the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM), accusing the institution of widespread fraud, including the issuance of fake degrees and involvement in financial irregularities. Sarma also alleged that USTM had been selling PhDs and other degrees without conducting proper examinations.
“The head of USTM himself is a fraud. The entire system is fraudulent, and the institution has been issuing fake certificates,” Chief Minister Sarma stated, also alleging that Hoque had submitted a forged caste certificate. “How can our intellectuals support someone with a false certificate?” Sarma questioned, further fueling the controversy surrounding the university and its operations.
