Patna, Feb. 22: The JDU is likely to take action against MLA Mewalal Choudhary, after an FIR alleged irregularities in appointment of assistant professors and junior scientists at Bihar Agriculture University (BAU), Sabour, Bhagalpur, when he was its vice-chancellor.

Mewalal, who was also founder member of the university, represents Tarapur Assembly constituency in Munger. "The party's track record in such cases is clean," JDU spokesperson and MLC Neeraj Kumar said. "We have always acted against such elements."

Sources said the FIR was lodged against Mewalal on the directive of the governor-cum-chancellor of universities, Ram Nath Kovind, who set up the probe committee after several applicants alleged irregularities in appointments.

Justice (retd) Syed Mohammed Mahfooz Alam of the Patna High Court headed the committee, which found that during Mewalal's tenure as BAU vice-chancellor in 2012, performing candidates were ignored and non-performing candidates appointed as assistant professors and junior scientists. Current vice-chancellor Ajay Kumar Singh lodged a police complaint against Choudhary at Sabour police station.

Asked when the party will take action, Neeraj said: "Our state unit president, Bashishtha Narayan Singh, is busy in some family matter. As soon as he is free, the message would be committed." Sources in the JDU said Bashishtha is admitted to a hospital in Medanta, Delhi, for a cervical spine surgery today evening.

Senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi demanded Mewalal's suspension and immediate arrest. "Now that it has been proved that irregularities took place, I demand that Nitish sack him from the party and ensure his immediate arrest," Sushil said. He also said action against Choudhary became possible only after the governor set up a probe committee. "The file related to allegations against Mewalal was lying with the chief minister for months, but he did not take any action," Sushil said. Instead, Nitish gave Mewalal a JDU ticket to contest the 2015 Assembly polls, Sushil said. "Finally, the governor intervened and set up a committee. There are allegations that a lot of money exchanged hands for the appointments and all this happened thanks to Nitish's support."

Bhagalpur senior superintendent of police (SSP) Manoj Kumar said the police was verifying the allegations against the former vice-chancellor. A DSP-rank officer would investigate the case.

Choudhary has been booked under sections 409 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (forgery), 467 (forgery of valuable security), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (using as genuine of forged document) and 120 (B) (conspiracy) of IPC.

The SSP said that Section 120 (D) had also been included in the FIR, which means that the police would also investigate the role of the beneficiaries and initiate action against them. "The police will spare nobody involved in the irregularities, if the charges are found to be true," Manoj told The Telegraph over phone on Wednesday.