Maharashtra Rocked by Rs 200 Crore School Approval Extortion Scandal

Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut has unleashed a sharp attack on the Maharashtra government and the Centre, claiming a massive Rs 200 crore extortion racket is operating within the state's School Education Ministry. Raut alleges that officials are demanding bribes through a detailed 'rate card' for approving new schools and clearances, crippling private educational institutions. He specifically pointed fingers at an Officer on Special Duty in the School Education Minister's office, accusing the official of blatant corruption. This isn't an isolated incident; Raut's allegations come amid a wave of corruption accusations against the Eknath Shinde Government, including a Rs 400 crore school kit scam and claims of bribery to influence a state assembly panel. The education sector in Maharashtra is already reeling from widespread paper leaks in major exams like NEET-UG, TET, and MPSC, along with a multi-crore Shalarth ID fraud involving fake teacher identities that has defrauded the government of Rs 160 crore. The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader has vowed to present evidence of these scams, putting immense pressure on the Maharashtra Government and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to address the allegations seriously. With public trust in the education system eroding and past anti-corruption efforts yielding limited convictions, all eyes are now on what concrete actions will be taken to investigate this alleged racket and restore integrity to the state's crucial education sector.