A storm is brewing in academic circles after former Maharaja Sayajirao University (MSU) Vice-Chancellor Vijaykumar Srivastava’s PhD credentials came under serious scrutiny. Things took a dramatic turn when Jhansi-based Bundelkhand University (BU) flagged his doctorate allegedly awarded in 2000 in organic chemistry as "fake and forged" in an e-verification report. This followed a request from MSU education professor Satish Pathak, who raised doubts about the validity of Srivastava’s academic claims in court documents. 
Pathak didn’t stop there. He demanded immediate legal and disciplinary action and urged authorities to nullify Srivastava’s appointment as VC right from the start. With resilience, he also pressed for recovery of salaries, allowances, travel perks, and verification of all academic qualifications. A formal FIR for fraud, forgery, and perjury is part of his call. 
Merely days later, BU reversed its initial findings. Calling the fake report a consequence of “errors in the verification form,” such as a mistaken name and incorrect roll number, the university declared Srivastava’s PhD genuine. They followed up with a revised note and an attested copy of the certificate, affirming its authenticity thesis titled “A Study of Fats and Fatty Acids in Some Plants of Bundelkhand Region.” 
However, Pathak remains unconvinced. He flagged lingering discrepancies between the original certificate and the BU’s revised statement. Accusing bureaucratic negligence or worse, undue influence he has demanded a fresh verification signed by the exam controller plus an attested copy for transparency. 
Adding fuel to the fire, MSU’s Senate, student leaders, and the Congress party are pushing for a CBI investigation. The debate over whether Srivastava’s entire tenure was built on falsehoods shows no signs of abating and poses serious questions about accountability in academia.