A Pune-based educational institution has denied allegations of caste discrimination after a former student accused the college of deliberately delaying a crucial job verification process, which he claimed resulted in the loss of his employment opportunity with a London-based firm. The college, however, insists that there was no caste-based bias involved and that the verification process was duly completed without any malintent or undue delay.

The controversy began when Prem Birhade, a former Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) student from Modern College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Pune, took to social media alleging that the college had refused to send a reference verification to his prospective employer in London. In a video statement, Birhade claimed that he had secured a job in the UK but lost the opportunity due to the college’s failure to provide a timely verification of his credentials. He further alleged that when he reached out to the concerned authorities for assistance, they questioned him about his caste and subsequently refused to cooperate once they learned that he belonged to the Scheduled Caste (SC) category and followed Buddhism.

Birhade said that the entire episode left him feeling discriminated against and humiliated. “I got a job in a firm in London. During the process, the company sought reference verification from my college. However, the college did not provide it, and I lost my job. I believe this happened because I belong to the Scheduled Caste community and am a Buddhist,” he said in the video. He added that when he contacted the head of the department (HOD) for help, she asked him about his caste background before stating that she would not be able to recommend him as per the instructions of the principal. “I told her the college doesn’t have to give a recommendation — it only needs to verify that I studied at the college between 2020 and 2023. Yet, she refused,” he alleged.

Birhade further claimed that when he sought clarification, the HOD accused him of being insincere and irregular during his time at the college — an assertion he has strongly denied. His allegations quickly drew widespread attention online, with several student groups and political figures commenting on the issue. Among those who voiced support for Birhade was Rohit Pawar, a legislator from the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction), who condemned the college’s alleged conduct and accused it of promoting a “Manuwadi” ideology — a term used by critics to describe casteist or Brahmanical bias.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Pawar wrote, “If Modern College in Pune fails to verify a student’s documents on time, resulting in a young man losing his job in London, it is deeply unfortunate. Is the college administration attempting to harass this student, Prem Birhade, with the same mentality that led to the incident involving an attempt to throw a shoe at the Chief Justice of India?” Pawar further alleged that while most of the college staff had been cooperative, the recently appointed principal was “imposing Manuwadi ideology” within the institution. “The new principal, who was appointed by bypassing all rules, laws, and seniority, seems to be promoting such discriminatory thinking. It does not behove the principal to play such games in a college that has a great legacy and reputation,” he said. The MLA also urged the college to issue an apology to the student, ensure cooperation, and prevent such incidents in the future.

However, the college administration has categorically denied all allegations of caste discrimination. In a detailed statement to the media, Vice Principal Shyamkant Deshmukh rejected Birhade’s claims as “baseless” and “motivated.” He clarified that the college had, in fact, already provided a bona fide certificate and completed the verification process for Birhade’s London-based employer. “When Prem was going overseas for further education after completing his graduation, the college had given him a letter of recommendation. Now, claims are being made that he lost his job, but the reality is that he has not lost his job. He was still in the process of joining when the verification request came in,” Deshmukh explained.

According to Deshmukh, the third-party verification firm sent an email to the college on September 30, requesting a reference verification for Birhade. “In that email, there was no specific deadline mentioned for submission,” he said. The vice principal further added that on October 14, the college provided the required bona fide certificate along with all the requested information in the prescribed format to the UK-based firm. “There was no deliberate delay. The profile was related to the aviation sector, and since such verification emails are new to us as an educational institution, we took some time to verify the data carefully and ensure accuracy before sending it,” he said.

Deshmukh emphasized that the allegations of caste-based bias were “completely unfounded.” He pointed out that Modern College has over 50,000 students enrolled from diverse social, religious, and economic backgrounds, and the institution has a long-standing reputation for inclusivity. “We categorically deny that any student has ever been discriminated against on the basis of caste or religion. Our policies are transparent, and we treat all students equally,” he said.

The college also highlighted that Birhade had previously been issued recommendation letters and necessary certificates without any complications, suggesting that there was no reason for the institution to act against him now. “We have always helped our students with documentation and references whenever required. The present claim that he was harassed or discriminated against is not supported by facts,” the vice principal maintained.

Meanwhile, political reactions to the controversy continue to grow. Several activists have demanded an independent inquiry into the matter, while others have accused political leaders of trying to exploit the incident for publicity. Student groups associated with Ambedkarite and anti-discrimination movements have called for greater accountability and transparency in educational institutions, particularly in the handling of caste-related grievances. They argue that even if the college’s explanation is accurate, the delay — whether intentional or procedural — reflects systemic inefficiency that can disproportionately harm marginalized students.

Birhade’s supporters, on the other hand, have urged the Savitribai Phule Pune University, with which Modern College is affiliated, to conduct a fact-finding inquiry into the matter. They claim that issues of caste bias often go unreported in academic spaces because students fear retaliation or administrative apathy. “Even if a delay occurred due to bureaucratic reasons, questioning a student’s caste in the process of verification is unacceptable and must be investigated,” said one activist who has been following the case.

While the college maintains that it acted in good faith and within reasonable time, the controversy underscores broader concerns about institutional accountability and the experiences of marginalized students in higher education. For Birhade, the incident has turned into a public test case about fairness and equality within academic systems that pride themselves on inclusivity.

As of now, the London-based firm has not issued any public clarification regarding the status of Birhade’s employment. The college insists that he has not officially lost the job and that his verification has already been sent. The outcome of the case remains uncertain, but the incident has sparked a renewed conversation about caste bias, administrative transparency, and student rights in Indian colleges.

While Modern College stands by its version that the verification was completed responsibly and without prejudice, Birhade’s allegations continue to resonate with those who view the episode as a reflection of deeper societal hierarchies that still influence educational spaces. Whether the matter ends as a misunderstanding or becomes a landmark instance of accountability may depend on how the investigation — if any — unfolds in the coming days.