JOIN USFormer AICTE official in CBI net
“The accused, Dr Manju Singh, gave recognition to the institute even as she was in full knowledge of the gross violation of rules by its director,” CBI sources told Deccan Herald.
Manju Singh was Regional Director, AICTE, Southwest Regional Office, Bangalore, when the alleged irregularities took place.
As regards the bribe taken by the official, the sources said: “We have clear proof of Rs 15 lakh, but the total amount of gratification is much more.”
The CBI conducted searches on Wednesday in the offices and residences of Singh in Bangalore and New Delhi. The agency also searched the offices and residences of O K Sreedharan, director of the Institute of Science and Technology, and its principal at Kollengode in the Palakkad district of Kerala.
Several incriminating documents pertaining to the case are being scrutinised, CBI officials said.
A case has been registered against Singh and Sreedharan under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The deal was allegedly struck during the period from December 2008 to June 2009.
According to the CBI, Sreedharan had submitted a proposal on December 26, 2008, to Singh for starting an engineering college at Attayamapathy, Govindapuram, Palakkad district, despite the absence of basic facilities. To begin with, the then regional director, Bangalore, vide letter dt 12/01/09 had informed the institute about “the shortcomings.”
Conspiracy
However, the two accused “and other unknown persons” later entered into a criminal conspiracy to obtain undue pecuniary advantage for themselves “and to cheat the Government of India.”
Sreedharan, without rectifying the shortcomings, managed to obtain a letter of approval from the AICTE.
The director also admitted students for the academic year 2009-10 “and thereby cheated the Government of India and obtained a corresponding wrongful gain for themselves”. The CBI said Singh had “received illegal gratification and suppressed facts deliberately.”