Bhatia said that he was ready to control the reins of the newly-formed Nagpur University Reforms Committee. Popular demand is that an upright officer like Bhatia be appointed as administrator of the university by dissolving all its bodies, including the management council.

He further said that he was willing to undertake the responsibility though for a specific period and would go into the entire gamut of its working and take remedial steps. He expressed happiness at the fact that the people of Nagpur, where he served as additional commissioner more than a decade ago, still remembered him and put so much faith in his ability.

Bhatia is on leave after he was transferred as director of Archives from the post of municipal commissioner of Pune for the second time and is known for his crusading zeal.

The committee, a forum of eminent educationists, is headed by former professor of engineering R H Tupkari. It was formed to restore the reputation of the 75-year-old university marred by the fake degree and marksheet scandal. The committee has threatened an agitation if its demands are not accepted in a fortnight. Both Vice-Chancellor B B Chopane and pro-vice chancellor Yoganand Kale quit their posts due to public pressure.

As many as 15 university officers, including officiating registrar and controller of examinations Prakash Mistry, dean of engineering faculty Hemant Thakre and assistant registrar and kingpin of racket Yadav Kohachade, have been arrested on charges of cheating and forgery. Another assistant registrar J V Shende, a suspect in the scandal, committed suicide.