Procurement scam at Bidar vet varsity: Lokayukta raids ex-VC, officials

The Lokayukta sleuths on Wednesday conducted simultaneous raids on 69 premises of the former V-C, registrar and scores of officials of the Bidar-based Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University (KVAFSU), across the state, over the alleged irregularities in procuring furniture, computers and lab equipment for its affiliate colleges between 2018 and 2022.

Following the complaint of irregularities, the Lokayukta officials from Bidar, Kalaburagi, Raichur, Yadgir, Dharwad and Bengaluru, under the guidance of Lokayukta ADGP Manish Kharbikar, raided at 31 premises in Bengaluru, 24 in Bidar, two premises each in Koppal and Chikkamagaluru and one each at Ramanagara, Hassan, Kolar and Udupi.

The Lokayukta officials have searched the houses of former V-C and registrar, who served between 2018 and 2022, along with those of deans, varsity officials, engineers , office staff and contract workers, across the state.

Vital documents

During the searches, the sleuths have seized a few vital documents and four lorries owned by a retired staffer. A few officials were subjected
to questioning for the entire day, sources in Lokayukta told DH.

Retired professor of Poultry Sciences and others in their complaint to Lokayukta had alleged that the 15 retired and serving officials, including the former V-C and registrar, were involved in Rs 32.26 crore scam by creating fake bills in the name of 50 companies, some fictitious, while procuring furniture, computers and lab equipment for seven colleges of the varsity.  

Based on the complaint, the Lokayukta officials of Bidar and Kalaburagi conducted a joint investigation and found substance in the allegation of the rampant corruption in procurement. The Lokayukta had registered a case and had continued investigation. The raids are part of the ongoing investigation, the sources confirmed.