Probe against VTU vice-chancellor to look into 24 charges

Karnataka HC former judge to complete probe by July 8

The one-man fact-finding committee constituted by Governor Vajubhai Vala to probe charges of irregularities against Vivesvaraya Technological University (VTU) Vice-Chancellor H Maheshappa has 24 terms of reference.

The notification ordering the probe, a copy of which is available with Deccan Herald, was issued on May 8. 

Charges against Maheshappa range from irregularities in awarding tender for construction works to irregularities in the appointment of 168 teaching staff in violation of government orders and to reducing the university’s corpus fund of Rs 500 crore to “insignificant levels”.  

One of the charges relates to refusing the governor’s directive to have a UGC nominee on the VTU executive council.  The university purchased Microsoft software for 500 computers without calling for tender while spending Rs 31 lakh. 

Then, Rs 3.06 crore was spent on a defunct e-Vidya online learning system. Companies have also been paid in advance for many works as against payment after completion of work.  

Very high monetary quotations to the extent of Rs 37.36 crore were made for the proposed hostel and a dining hall at VTU Institute of Advanced Technology campus at Muddenahalli in Chikkaballapura district. Irregularities in spending Rs 2.25 crore on site works for VTU regional campus at Kalaburagi are among the charges that are being probed. 

Officials who have been part of the VTU administration in the past say they are astonished by the scale of money spent by Maheshappa. A VTU former official said: “If I spent Rs 80 lakh on revamping a building, he has spent more than Rs 4 crore. Also, why do we need softwares and online learning systems that are not being used well?” 

The committee will be headed by Justice K N Keshavanarayana, a former judge of the Karnataka High Court and the probe is likely to be completed by July 8