Document forgery at Alappuzha college: Will verify authenticity of certificate, says PM Arsho

Alappuzha: SFI State Secretary PM Arsho on Saturday addressed the allegations surrounding party leader Nikhil Thomas, who is accused of securing admission to a postgraduate course using a fake BCom certificate. 

Arsho assured that the party will probe into the matters including authenticity of the certificate and take appropriate action if Nikhil has gained admission through fraudulent means.

Arsho added that Nikhil has been instructed to provide complete details regarding the certificate.

Meanwhile, the rival Kerala Students Union (KSU) has alleged that the college management has been supporting Nikhil. KSU claimed that the management has not cooperated despite the college union's intervention under the RTI Act. KSU District Branch President AD Thomas said that legal action will be pursued in response to this matter.

Nikhil had been a BCom student at Kayamkulam MSM College from 2018 to 2020. However, controversy arose when he joined the MCom program at the same college in 2021, raising doubts about whether he had successfully completed his B.Com studies.

To facilitate his admission, Nikhil purportedly submitted a BCom certificate from Kalinga University for the academic year 2018-2019. The current predicament revolves around the question of how he managed to study at both Kayamkulam College and Kalinga University simultaneously. 

Following a complaint on this issue, the SFI removed Nikhil Thomas from his positions on the District Committee and as Kayamkulam Area Secretary.