A Mumbai University student, who claims that he cleared a first-year Bachelor in Engineering (BE) paper by paying Rs 20,000 to an agent, has moved the Bombay High Court seeking directions to the university to revoke his degree. Vaibhav Patil, 26, has approached the court as a last resort after spending three years knocking on every door in the university. But every department either asked him to seek psychiatric help or requested him see an in-house counsellor. Vaibhav, who secured his BE degree with IT specialisation 2011, has been so guilt-ridden that he has not taken up a job yet and has spent all his time chasing university officials to have the degree certificate junked.

"While the act has provisions for the university to cancel a degree if it is found to be fake, there is no provision to take such a step upon a student's request," said Khan. He, however, said the degree can be revoked if the Academic Council passes a resolution to the effect. But for the Academic Council to do that, Vaibhav will have to produce proof that he did cheat and also reveal how it was done.

But Vaibhav is undeterred. "If I reveal the agent's identity a lot of other students may get into trouble. All I want is that students should know what I have been through. I want to send out the message that nothing is worth achieving when you get it through wrong means. I have learnt my lesson and hope that others do too," he added.