Ranchi, Aug. 10: Central University of Jharkhand VC Nand Kumar Yadav 'Indu' is scheduled to attend a UGC meeting of vice chancellors tomorrow in Delhi where he expected to discuss funds with senior government officials, especially a payments freeze imposed on CUJ by CBI that is probing irregularities in issuing contracts for building a new campus in Ranchi.

An CBI advisory issued in January asked CUJ to withhold payments to contractors till investigations were over into alleged corrupt deals worth Rs 100 crore while preparing a master plan, architectural designs of buildings and awarding contracts for constructions at the permanent campus coming up at Cheri-Manatu, around 20km from the capital city, during 2010 and 2014.

While the payments freeze could delay work on the new campus, Nand Kumar, who took over a week over, is upset why CUJ authorities hadn't bothered to find out from the CBI's Anti-Corruption Wing the exact nature of the advisory - whether, for instance, it was legally binding - and for how long the embargo was to be in place.

"I don't know why the (CBI) letter was not replied to. Tomorrow, I will meet Union HRD ministry officials to know what CUJ ought to do when the CBI letter advises against any payments. I will also request the ministry to release funds," the VC said, adding payments could not be held up indefinitely.

At CUJ's temporay campus at Brambe today, freshers joined classes today after the campus was shut down from July 31 to quell students' protest over woefully inadequate amenities, including sub-standard food and hostel facilities.

"As VC, I am facing a lot of pressure as the temporary campus of CUJ at Brambe has outlived its utility. The number of students, faculty and courses has grown over the years ever since it was established in 2009. Governor Droupdi Murmu has assured me all possible help," Nand Kishore said.

On the directives of the Union HRD ministry, the CBI registered two FIRs last year under various sections Prevention of Corruption Act-1988.

These were against then VC Darlando T. Khathing (currently a professor at North-Eastern Hill University in Shillong), project officer N.P. Garg, besides other officials and 16 private firms for causing a loss of Rs 9 crore to government.

The CBI later registered two other preliminary enquiries in which Khathing, then registrar Shyam Narayan, deputy registrar K.P. Mohanta were named suspects.

CBI also conducted nationwide raids at residential and official premises of suspects and also interrogated Khathing.

Initially, the Centre earmarked Rs 300 crore for infrastructure development at the permanent campus of CUJ spread over 100 acres at Cheri Manatu in Kanke block of Ranchi district.