<p>A UK-based academician has sought to dispel speculation over Rahul Gandhi's credentials as a Cambridge graduate, saying he had a hand in the Congress vice-president's admission to the prestigious university.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"Yes, I had a hand in getting Rahul when he came incognito to Trinity under the name of Da Vinci some years back, but I didn't actually teach development studies," said Dr Anil Seal, a Fellow at Trinity College, University of Cambridge.<br /><br />The half-Indian scholar was responding to being introduced as the "personal tutor" of Rahul and before him his father Rajiv, who he described as "not perhaps our star pupil".<br /><br />The remarks were made at an education panel at the India Summit organised by 'Plus 91' in central London last November.<br /><br />The seemingly off-hand remark made before hundreds of keen India-watchers has assumed significance now as the controversy surrounding 43-year-old Rahul's academic achievements takes centre-stage in India.<br /><br />Cambridge University vice-chancellor Professor Alison Richard had recently confirmed in a letter that Rahul was indeed awarded an M Phil in Development Studies in 1995 under the name of Raul Vinci.<br /><br />"It is extremely unfortunate that a controversy has arisen regarding your degree and we would like to set the controversy at rest immediately," she was quoted as saying.</p>
<p>A UK-based academician has sought to dispel speculation over Rahul Gandhi's credentials as a Cambridge graduate, saying he had a hand in the Congress vice-president's admission to the prestigious university.<br /><br /></p>.<p>"Yes, I had a hand in getting Rahul when he came incognito to Trinity under the name of Da Vinci some years back, but I didn't actually teach development studies," said Dr Anil Seal, a Fellow at Trinity College, University of Cambridge.<br /><br />The half-Indian scholar was responding to being introduced as the "personal tutor" of Rahul and before him his father Rajiv, who he described as "not perhaps our star pupil".<br /><br />The remarks were made at an education panel at the India Summit organised by 'Plus 91' in central London last November.<br /><br />The seemingly off-hand remark made before hundreds of keen India-watchers has assumed significance now as the controversy surrounding 43-year-old Rahul's academic achievements takes centre-stage in India.<br /><br />Cambridge University vice-chancellor Professor Alison Richard had recently confirmed in a letter that Rahul was indeed awarded an M Phil in Development Studies in 1995 under the name of Raul Vinci.<br /><br />"It is extremely unfortunate that a controversy has arisen regarding your degree and we would like to set the controversy at rest immediately," she was quoted as saying.</p>