Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Wednesday, 29 July alleged a ₹200 crore extortion racket embedded within Maharashtra's School Education Ministry, claiming that private institutions are forced to pay bribes at every stage of the school approval process. Speaking to reporters in New Delhi and issuing a detailed statement on social media platform X, Raut released what he described as an official 'rate card' of bribe amounts demanded by government officials for routine clearances.

The Alleged Rate Card

According to Raut, the total cost of securing administrative clearances across various government desks has reportedly spiralled to nearly ₹50 lakh per school. He outlined specific amounts allegedly demanded at each stage: ₹5 lakh for the initial Letter of Intent (LOI), ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh per desk for final ministerial approval of self-financed schools, and ₹8 lakh to sanction additional classroom divisions.

Raut specifically targeted an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the School Education Minister's office, accusing the official of refusing to engage with school management representatives unless bribe demands are met. 'Even after paying, school administrators are forced to make endless rounds of the minister's office for six months,' Raut stated. 'The OSD acts with complete impunity, boasting that no action can be taken against him because he is closely connected to the Minister,' he added.

Evidence from Institution Owners

Raut said several harassed institution owners personally met him in New Delhi to hand over evidence of the alleged extortion network. He estimated the racket has generated ₹200 crore across the state. Contrasting this with the condition of public education, Raut pointed out that nearly 2,000 government schools across Maharashtra have recently shut down due to severe funding shortages — a juxtaposition critics argue reflects misplaced priorities.

Paper Leaks, Fake Degrees, and Academic Integrity

Beyond the school approval scandal, Raut raised alarm over Maharashtra's broader academic integrity, citing repeated leaks in major competitive and recruitment examinations including the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC), the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET), Drug Inspector exams, and NEET-UG. He also alleged widespread circulation of fraudulent marksheets and university certificates, claiming that '2 out of every 10 people in Maharashtra hold fake degrees issued over the last 10 years.' He further alleged that teachers are being pulled from classrooms to perform non-educational administrative duties, and advocated deploying unemployed youth for such fieldwork instead.

Political Accountability and Demands

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Raut held Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis directly accountable for the crisis. He criticised Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) parliamentarians for deflecting responsibility during parliamentary discussions on paper leaks by invoking past prime ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi rather than addressing present institutional failures. Citing the NEET-UG irregularities specifically, Raut demanded Prime Minister Modi's resignation. 'The education sector in Maharashtra has plunged into complete chaos,' Raut said. 'Instead of addressing merit and core issues, the administration deflects criticism. I will be presenting all evidence regarding these scams,' he added.

This comes amid a broader national debate over examination integrity, with the NEET-UG controversy having already triggered protests and judicial scrutiny across the country. The Maharashtra government is yet to formally respond to Raut's specific allegations.