Gaya, Aug. 3: The vice-chancellor’s post at the Magadh University seems to be jinxed. The image of majority of them suffered a jolt while holding the position.

Three of the seven persons holding the post in the past 15 years have serious criminal cases pending against them. If convicted, they might land up in jail. Another passed away during trial.

The economic offences wing of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) issued chargesheet against late B.N. Rawat, one of the former vice-chancellors of the Magadh University, in the much-publicised Shikha Gupta case. He passed away during the trial.

Two other former vice-chancellors of the university, including Ziauddin Ahmed and S.C. Mukherjee, are facing trial in special courts. They have been accused of fraud and criminal conspiracy. The duo are out on bail at present.

Mukherjee is a former judge of the Patna High court. He has the dubious distinction of being the only former high court judge to face trial on serious criminal charges, including forgery.

B.N. Pandey, another former vice-chancellor of the varsity, has also landed himself in trouble. He has been accused of fraud and obstructing a public servant from performing his duty.

Pandey allegedly did not allow an auditor, a public servant deputed to examine the university accounts, to perform his duty freely. He has also been accused of appointing people in the varsity flouting norms.

As per the contents of an FIR registered against Pandey at the Magadh University police station on August 29, 2009, he allegedly misbehaved with the audit team and did not provide them with required documents. According to the FIR, he threatened the auditor as well.

Pandey’s bodyguard was withdrawn following the institution of the criminal case against him.

The governor-cum-chancellor curtailed his power after the FIR was lodged. He was directed look after the routine work of the varsity only.Pandey relinquished the post last December. Magadh division commissioner K.P. Rammaiah conducted a probe into the allegations against Pandey. The commissioner submitted a report stating that all the charges against Pandey were true.

Pandey has also been found guilty of lying on oath in another case in Patna High Court. After holding him guilty, the court had left the governor-cum-chancellor to decide on his punishment.

According to court records, Pandey was directed to be physically present before the court on September 3, 2008 in connection with the case. But he did not turn up allegedly feigning illness. He instead presided over a public function in Gaya College.

Pandey’s lawyer, Ahsan Amanuulah, had withdrawn himself from the case in protest against his false statement in the court.