MUMBAI, June 24: Members of the education committee of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation in a meeting today demanded a police enquiry be conducted in the Rs 2 lakh scam in the education department, following which education officer U R Dandawate and four other officials were suspended.

According to education committee chairman Neeta Naik, the members demanded the enquiry be handed over to the police as the departmental enquiry ordered by the commissioner would not unearth the entire scam. She said the members felt the scam was more deep-rooted than perceived and hence a thorough enquiry should be conducted.

The issue was raised by Sena corporator Parag Chavan and supported by all the committee members. Naik also felt the money involved in the scam was much more as the real estate price in Mumbai is high and 22 schools were involved. ``The audit department had not provided the exact amount,'' said Naik., who along with Mayor Vishakha Raut will meet Chief Minister Manohar Joshi next week requesting him to allow the corporation to take over the ninth and tenth standards in government schools. Presently, the corporation is in charge till the eighth standard.

This decision was taken at the group leaders' meeting where Naik forwarded the proposal. Earlier, she along with Raut met Education Minister Sudhir Joshi in this regard. Although Joshi was in favour of the proposal, the CM will take the final decision.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.