MUMBAI: A govt college is under scrutiny for allegedly outsourcing its courses to private entities to run high-fee courses from its campus even as aided programmes were cut back to make room for them.The state has ordered an inquiry into Sydenham College after a complaint alleged that two self-financed programmes, together potentially generating around Rs 11 crore annually, were being run through private entities for years using govt-funded infrastructure.The state has formed an inquiry panel.“We have formed a three-member high-profile committee under the chairmanship of Mumbai University provice-chancellor Ajay Bhamare. He has been asked to submit his findings in a week,following which further course of action will be taken,” higher education director Shailendra Deolankar told TOI.At the centre of the complaint are BSc in Financial Technology (FinTech) and BSc in Luxury Brand and Retail Management. It alleges the courses are being conducted through arrangements involving PD Learning Curve, Keyman Capital Pvt Ltd and ISFE Education Services LLP. It names in charge principal Shrinivas Dhure and alleges that arrangements were entered into with PD Learning Curve.The PD Learning Curve owner floated two companies Keyman and ISFE and through them has entered into an MoU with Dhure for starting these high-fee programs, says the complaint.According to the complainant, the FinTech course chargesRs 2.05 lakh per student, while Luxury Brand and Retail Management costs Rs 3.08 lakh. Based on an intake of 72 students in each year of both programmes, the complainants estimate they could together generate about Rs 11 crore a year.The complaint alleges the programmes use Sydenham’s classrooms, electricity, library, laboratories, furniture, administrative staff and security, all funded by the state. It has sought scrutiny of how the fees are utilised and whether payments or financial benefits were made to college officials or private individuals.The controversy has sharpened because Sydenham, one of the state’s oldest govt colleges, has traditionally offered affordable aided programmes.The representation claims that one division of BCom in Banking and Insurance, running since 2008, was closed in 2024-25. It further alleges admissions to the govt-aided MC-om programme were discouraged this academic year, resulting in the closure of one morning and one evening division.The complainants have sought verification of whether these closures had university approval and complied with the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016.Admissions to the self-financed programmes have also been questioned, with allegations that reservation norms are not being followed.The complaint further questions the experience of the private entities, alleging that the key man had no prior experience in luxury and brand management, and ISFE was established only in June 2024, following which the course began at Sydenham.