Madhusudan Chakraborty

New Delhi, Aug. 21: The HRD ministry is likely to frame charges against IIT Bhubaneswar director Madhusudan Chakraborty for alleged involvement in irregularities related to equipment purchases worth Rs 2.5 crore last year.

The charges could be framed this month by the ministry’s vigilance wing on the basis of the lapses detected by the CBI in the purchases.

The planned action against Chakraborty, who is already under a cloud over appointment of underqualified teachers at the three-year-old IIT, could culminate in a possible suspension or removal. The process could take several months during which he will remain in the post.

The institute had purchased the equipment from a single company bypassing the tender process in transactions cleared by Chakraborty, the central probe agency said in a report to the ministry in June this year after a surprise check conducted in November last year.

“The CBI has found irregularities in the purchase of equipment. Certain complaints have been lodged before the Central Vigilance Commission on the same issue. The ministry is likely to frame charges against him (Chakraborty) for departmental action,” a source said.

Under rules applicable to central organisations such as the IITs, tenders have to be invited through newspaper ads for procuring items worth more than Rs 25 lakh.

For items costing up to Rs 25 lakh, tender enquiries have to be made. In cases of proprietary items — products with only one manufacturer — the tender process can be bypassed but the company in question must give a certificate saying the equipment fits the tag.

The CBI did not find such certificates from M/S AIMIL, from which the equipment was bought. It was Chakraborty’s job to check that such documents were in place. Soil testing, groundpenetrating radar sensor and devices used in seismic research were among the items purchased.

Senior faculty members S.C. Dutta, D. Pasla, S. Haldar and P. Bhunian had finalised the list of equipment but insisted they should be purchased after getting such certificates.