Firstpost
  • Home
  • Video Shows
    Vantage Firstpost America Firstpost Africa First Sports
  • World
    US News
  • Explainers
  • News
    India Opinion Cricket Tech Entertainment Sports Health Photostories
  • Asia Cup 2025
Apple Incorporated Modi ji Justin Trudeau Trending

Sections

  • Home
  • Live TV
  • Videos
  • Shows
  • World
  • India
  • Explainers
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Cricket
  • Health
  • Tech/Auto
  • Entertainment
  • Web Stories
  • Business
  • Impact Shorts

Shows

  • Vantage
  • Firstpost America
  • Firstpost Africa
  • First Sports
  • Fast and Factual
  • Between The Lines
  • Flashback
  • Live TV

Events

  • Raisina Dialogue
  • Independence Day
  • Champions Trophy
  • Delhi Elections 2025
  • Budget 2025
  • US Elections 2024
  • Firstpost Defence Summit
Trending:
  • PM Modi in Manipur
  • Charlie Kirk killer
  • Sushila Karki
  • IND vs PAK
  • India-US ties
  • New human organ
  • Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale Movie Review
fp-logo
Did BJP leader Kirit Somaiya’s son get a PhD in 16 months?
Whatsapp Facebook Twitter
Whatsapp Facebook Twitter
Apple Incorporated Modi ji Justin Trudeau Trending

Sections

  • Home
  • Live TV
  • Videos
  • Shows
  • World
  • India
  • Explainers
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Cricket
  • Health
  • Tech/Auto
  • Entertainment
  • Web Stories
  • Business
  • Impact Shorts

Shows

  • Vantage
  • Firstpost America
  • Firstpost Africa
  • First Sports
  • Fast and Factual
  • Between The Lines
  • Flashback
  • Live TV

Events

  • Raisina Dialogue
  • Independence Day
  • Champions Trophy
  • Delhi Elections 2025
  • Budget 2025
  • US Elections 2024
  • Firstpost Defence Summit
  • Home
  • Explainers
  • Did BJP leader Kirit Somaiya’s son get a PhD in 16 months?

Did BJP leader Kirit Somaiya’s son get a PhD in 16 months?

FP Explainers • October 18, 2022, 14:49:41 IST
Whatsapp Facebook Twitter

Research scholars at Mumbai University have alleged that Neil Somaiya’s PhD was ‘fast-tracked’ and demanded an investigation into the matter. However, Kirit Somaiya has stated that Neil registered for the course in 2017

Advertisement
Subscribe Join Us
Add as a preferred source on Google
Prefer
Firstpost
On
Google
Did BJP leader Kirit Somaiya’s son get a PhD in 16 months?

Kirit Somaiya’s son 31-year-old Neil is embroiled in yet another controversy – this time over a PhD. According to several media reports, scholars at Mumbai University have alleged that Neil was awarded a PhD within 16 months. The development comes a week after Somaiya, the former MP and vice-president of BJP Maharashtra, took to Twitter to celebrate his son’s achievement.

  Let’s take a closer look: News18 reported that Neil submitted his PhD thesis on August 2021 and gave the oral exam in October. Research scholars claimed Neil was awarded his PhD by Mumbai University on the second day of his oral exam. Research scholars at Mumbai University have alleged that Neil Somaiya’s PhD was ‘fast-tracked’ and demanded an investigation into the matter. It usually takes between three and six years for a student to get a PhD, though students in STEM areas take on average around four years, Indian Express quoted officials as saying. Kirit, taking to Twitter, rubbished allegations of favouritism.

More from Explainers
Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar Giorgio Armani will: Who will get the inheritance? What happens to his fashion empire? Giorgio Armani will: Who will get the inheritance? What happens to his fashion empire?

He said Neil took the exam on 17 September and that the second paper is from Neil’s full programme of PhD with the registration date of June 2021. Kirit further stated that Sydenham Institute of Management Studies registered Neil’s admission in 2017. As per Indian Express, under Mumbai University rules, the duration of a PhD programme is counted from day of admission (not registration) till the day of submission of thesis. “The higher education institution concerned shall complete the entire process of evaluating a PhD thesis, including declaration of the viva-voce result, within a period of six months from the date of submission of the thesis under the new rules,” the report quoted the rules as reading. The university told the newspaper that Neil indeed took admission in the PhD programme in 2017, based on which the duration of the degree’s completion was calculated.

This isn’t the first time the Somaiyas have been embroiled in controversy.

An ex-serviceman had in April filed an FIR against the Somaiyas at the Trombay Police Station accusing them of misappropriating public funds collected forcollected for conserving the decommissioned aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. The complaint alleged that the Somaiyas in 2013  collected Rs 57 crore from the public in 2013 for saving the decommissioned warship from being scrapped. However, this money was never used or deposited with the state governor’s office, the complaint stated. The Somaiyas then approached the Bombay High Court which granted them interim protection from arrest. In August, police told the court they did not have any evidence of misappropriation of funds against the Somaiyas, as per Hindustan Times. [caption id=“attachment_11038921” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] BJP leader Kirit Somaiya. ANI[/caption] The police told the court a 72-hour notice would be issued if they were to be arrested after which the single judge bench directed the Somaiyas to appear before police on 17 and 18 August. The court queried whether their custody was required but the Mumbai Police special counsel said it wasn’t, and that the investigation would continue and that they wanted the Somaiyas to co-operate. In February, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut had demanded the arrest Kirit and Neil for their alleged links to the multi-crore Punjab and Maharashtra Co-operative Bank fraud case. This after Kirit had levelled corruption allegations against several leaders of the Shiv Sena and other constituents of the then ruling MVA coalition in Maharashtra. Raut had claimed that Neil had links with Rakesh Wadhawan, an accused in the PMC bank fraud. Denying allegations, Kirit said that he was ready to face any investigation. With inputs from agencies Read all the  Latest News ,  Trending News ,  Cricket News ,  Bollywood News , India News  and  Entertainment News  here. Follow us on  Facebook,  Twitter and  Instagram.

Tags
ConnectTheDots Kirit Somaiya Mumbai University PhD neil somaiya Neil Somaya
End of Article
Latest News
Find us on YouTube
Subscribe
End of Article

Impact Shorts

Ghaziabad woman dead, pilgrims attacked in bus… How Nepal’s Gen-Z protests turned into a living hell for Indian tourists

Ghaziabad woman dead, pilgrims attacked in bus… How Nepal’s Gen-Z protests turned into a living hell for Indian tourists

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned following violent protests in Nepal. An Indian woman from Ghaziabad died trying to escape a hotel fire set by protesters. Indian tourists faced attacks and disruptions, with some stranded at the Nepal-China border during the unrest.

More Impact Shorts

Top Stories

Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?

Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?

As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland

As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland

Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar

Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar

Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe

Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe

Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?

Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?

As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland

As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland

Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar

Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar

Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe

Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe

Top Shows

Vantage Firstpost America Firstpost Africa First Sports
Latest News About Firstpost
Most Searched Categories
  • Web Stories
  • World
  • India
  • Explainers
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Cricket
  • Tech/Auto
  • Entertainment
  • IPL 2025
NETWORK18 SITES
  • News18
  • Money Control
  • CNBC TV18
  • Forbes India
  • Advertise with us
  • Sitemap
Firstpost Logo

is on YouTube

Subscribe Now

Copyright @ 2024. Firstpost - All Rights Reserved

About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Terms Of Use
Home Video Shorts Live TV