Abhinav Kala Mahavidyalaya’s Acting Principal Rahul Balwant Alias Rahul Koli Exposed; Art Directorate Orders Cancellation of Appointment
Pune, July 29, 2025
The number of individuals securing jobs with forged caste‐validity certificates is alarmingly high. They take every precaution to keep their fraud hidden, yet sooner or later the deception comes to light and wrongdoers are exposed. Exactly three years ago, Maharashtra Varta published an in‐depth report revealing that Acting Principal Rahul Bhimrao Koli—also known as Rahul Balwant—of Abhinav Kala Mahavidyalaya had obtained his position in 2006 by submitting a counterfeit Scheduled Caste (SC) certificate.
Associate Professor Rajendra Dhavale and social activist (and BJYM leader) Manisha Dharne first accused him of presenting a bogus caste certificate at the time of his 2006 appointment. Dharne lodged formal written complaints with both the State Higher and Technical Education Department and the Directorate of Art Education and pursued them relentlessly at ministerial and directorate levels.
On September 9, 2024, then‐Art Director Rajiv Mishra—unequivocally resisting all external pressures—constituted an inquiry committee. Its investigators determined that, indeed, Rahul Koli alias Rahul Balwant had produced a fake ST validity certificate when he joined the college. The committee also afforded him an opportunity to explain himself and to furnish the original 2006 certificate, but he failed to do so. Upon receiving the inquiry report, newly appointed Art Director Dr. Kishor Ingle promptly revoked Balwant’s July 18, 2006 appointment as Assistant Lecturer.
Know the exactly matter
While Whistleblowing this matter three years back, Maharashtra Varta’s investigative team did research of documents provided by Rajendra Dhavale and Manisha Dharne revealed that on October 10, 2006, Rahul Bhimrao Koli (alias Rahul Balwant) was appointed Assistant Lecturer under the Scheduled Tribe (Mahadev Koli) quota. Directorate orders had stipulated that he submit his caste‐validity certificate within six months of appointment in order to receive his formal appointment letter; otherwise, his appointment would be nullified. Ahead of this deadline, Balwant submitted a counterfeit certificate.
Prior to the exposé, college records astonishingly contained two caste‐validity certificates for him: one forged certificate in someone else’s name (uncovered via an RTI request) and a second, dated May 2, 2009, which the administration continued to treat as valid.
This raises critical questions:
- If Balwant’s appointment dated back to 2006, on what basis did the college accept the 2009 certificate?
- Despite discovering two different caste certificates in its files, why did the administration not immediately dismiss Balwant and file a police report?
- Why was whistle‐blower Rajendra Dhavale bypassed for promotion, while Balwant was elevated to Acting Principal?
- Should not the Bhartiya Kala Prasarini Sabha Trust—the college’s governing body—also face legal proceedings for its role in enabling this fraud?
Manisha Dharne, who has been vocal against mismanagement at Bharatiya Kala Prasarini Sabha for over 15 years, said, “I faced immense pressure and character assassination attempts. Rahul Koli Alias Rahul Balwant resorted to smear campaigns via Impersonate journalists to defame me and senior directorate officials. but I stood firm. I am a fighter and won’t be intimidated by cowards.”
“Despite all the pressure, I remain undeterred,” says Manisha Dharne. She credits Dhavale’s whistle‐blower efforts and her own persistent follow‐up for compelling the Directorate to act. Dharne alleges that Rahul Balwant resorted to smear campaigns via Impersonate journalists to defame her and senior directorate officials, but she insists such tactics will not intimidate her.
Dharne praised newly joined Director of Arts for state Dr. Kishor Ingle for swift action and commended former Director of Arts Rajiv Mishra, Deputy Director Vinod Dhangde, and other officials for their unwavering integrity. Dharne also revealed that Dhavle Sir was falsely implicated in a molestation case as retaliation for exposing the scam. But i was remains confident that truth will ultimately prevail.
Despite the Directorate’s orders, Abhinav Kala Mahavidyalaya has yet to fully implement them as he still visits the college. Manisha Dharne demanded immediate police action against Koli and the college administration Bhartiya Kala Prasarini Sabha Trust for aiding the fraud. She emphasized that mere suspension of salary is insufficient and that criminal charges must be filed to prevent similar abuses across Maharashtra’s educational institutions.
This case highlights the urgent need for transparency and accountability in caste certificate verification and institutional governance. It will be interesting to see if the newly appointed Art Director Dr. Kishore Ingle takes a tough stance on this.
