Madras HC seeks report from magistrate on granting bail to Vice Chancellor

Chennai: Madras High Court has sought a detailed report from Salem Judicial Magistrate on his granting bail to Vice-Chancellor of Periyar University R Jagannathan, who was arrested last week on charges of cheating, criminal conspiracy and under the provisions of the SC/ST Act.

The prosecution had knocked at the doors of the High Court seeking to set aside the order passed by Judicial Magistrate-II, Salem, J Dinesh Kumaran, rejecting the demand to remand Jagannathan, who was booked under various sections of the IPC and the Prevention of Atrocities (SC/ST) Act.

The public prosecutor had contended before the court that the Magistrate failed to consider the mandatory provisions of Section 15-A of the SC/ST Act and released the V-C on bail.

In his order, Justice P Dhanabal said since the Magistrate had passed the order in detail, it was appropriate to call for a report from him and also to hear all sides. The judge asked the Magistrate to submit a detailed report and posted the matter to January 12.

Jagannathan was arrested on December 26 on charges of embezzling public funds and violating rules by setting up a private firm in his name, but was released on bail. He was booked under sections that deal with criminal conspiracy, forgery, and cheating.

The V-C has been under the cloud for the better part of his tenure with several political parties and activists levelling allegations of corruption against him and his colleagues at the university established by the state government in 1997.

Police took action following a complaint filed by I Elangovan, legal advisor of the Periyar University Employees Union (PUEU).

In his complaint, Elangovan had alleged that the V-C along with the Registrar founded Periyar University Technology Entrepreneurship and Research Foundation (PUTER Foundation) in their own names by misusing the varsity funds. The foundation functions within the university premises.

It is alleged that the University administration, during a meeting of the Syndicate in November, proposed a collaboration with PUTER to conduct training programmes for the students. PUEU and the Association of University Teachers (AUT) have red-flagged the proposal demanding how the institution can collaborate with a firm in which the V-C and Registrar, both employees of the University, are directors.