The vigilance team has started an inquiry into the purchase of examination papers and copies by Jai Prakash University without floating a tender.

This purchase scam is said to be to the tune of crores and the onus is on vice-chancellor Dwijendra Gupta.

The vigilance team on Saturday visited Jai Prakash University and questioned many employees and officials. The team has already provided papers to the vice-chancellor for writing his point of defence. The team also noted the statements of Vishvajit Singh Chandel, who has lodged a complaint regarding the scam.

The two-member also visited the university a week ago. Sources said the team took many documents of the university with it. Gupta was not present in the university and officials of the university are keeping mum.

Many action of the vice-chancellor have been mired in controversies and a team of legislative Council headed by its deputy chairman Salim Parvej is also investigating the matter and had called Gupta for interrogation. Parvej said necessary legal actions would be taken against the vice-chancellor if his replies are found unsatisfactory.

According to information, the governor-cum-chancellor’s office has also found the replies of the vice-chancellor regarding his qualifications to head the university not satisfactory and the chancellor’s office is reportedly seeking legal opinion. Governor-cum-chancellor D.Y. Patil’s term would expire on November 27.

The governor’s legal adviser is said to have submitted its opinion. The sources said the legal opinion suggests that Gupta does not qualify to become vice-chancellor according to the guidelines laid by the University Grants Commission and thus his appointment on the post of vice-chancellor is illegal.

The sources said Gupta was appointed on Congress quota and he has the backing of a former central minister from Kanpur.