Ranchi University

Ranchi, April 4: Jharkhand High Court today disposed a public interest litigation on financial irregularities in Ranchi University, directing the petitioner to approach the vigilance bureau and register an FIR against officials found guilty.

The PIL was filed by International Human Rights Association secretary Amit Kumar alleging illegal withdrawal of Rs 1.31 crore, which had come from University Grants Commission. Kumar said Ranchi University registrar Jyoti Kumar and the then finance officer Sushil Kumar Prasad had embezzled the money.

The petitioner said the registrar had in a bid to save his skin registered an FIR against Prasad in June last year, adding that several senior officers of the university were involved in the scam.

Prasad has been absconding since the FIR was lodged against him on June 1 under Section 406, 471, 420, 467, 468 and 120 B of Indian Penal Code.

In February, Kotwali police station got hold of Prasad’s son Siddhartha Kumar, as an amount of Rs 32 lakh was allegedly transferred to his account by his father and he had knowledge of the transaction.

The university had earlier constituted a high-powered inquiry committee to probe the matter. The committee was expected to probe all the financial dealings which took place during the tenure of Prasad since he took charge in 2005. The committee comprised pro-vice chancellor, V.P. Sharan, officer on special duty B.N. Roy, procter C.S.P. Lugun, deputy registrar Preetam Kumar, and co-ordinator of audit section V. N. Singh.

Ranchi University lodged the FIR only after the directive of governor cum chancellor of universities M.O.H. Farook, who was informed that the university authorities were misusing fund to the tune of more than Rs 1 crore granted by the government and UGC for the payment of arrears to teaching and non-teaching employees of the university.