The Hindu : 'Rs. 3.5 lakhs paid to Vice-Chancellor'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Sep 14, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

'Rs. 3.5 lakhs paid to Vice-Chancellor'

By Our Staff Correspondent

MYSORE SEPT. 13. The corruption charges against the Mysore University Vice-Chancellor, S.N. Hegde, took a new turn with the chairman of the TTL College of Business Management, Mysore, K.L. Ramadas, alleging that he paid Rs. 3.5 lakhs to the former.

The Mysore University Syndicate member, K. Mahadev, recently accused Prof. Hegde of demanding and receiving $ 7,000 (Rs 3.5 lakhs) from Dr. Ramdas. The Vice-Chancellor was also accused of standing by the chairperson of the Department of Studies in Business Administration, University of Mysore, B.R. Ananthan, who allegedly demanded and received Rs. 1.64 lakh for guiding students of the TTL College.

Now, Dr. Ramadas on Wednesday reportedly wrote to the Governor, T.N. Chaturvedi, who is also the Chancellor of the university, saying: "I beg to state the charges of corruption made against the Vice-Chancellor that he asked and received $ 7,000 through his wife and daughter and against Dr. Ananthan that he demanded and received Rs. 1.64 lakhs are true and the related documents submitted by Dr. Mahadev are genuine." Dr. Ramadas offerred to produce all documents before the Governor or any Commission of Inquiry. "I am willing to testify in person," he said.

Demanding a high-level inquiry into the charges against Prof. Hegde, Dr. Mahadev had sent to the Governor photocopies of a bank money order for $ 7,000 drawn in favour of Sandhya Hegde, daughter of the Vice-Chancellor. Dr. Mahadev had enclosed copies of e-mails sent by Prof. Hegde's family members to Dr. Ramadas and his family as proof of payment. Dr. Ramadas, who established the TTL College of Business Management in Mysore in 1996, said it had been a "trying and difficult task" to run the institution because of the "climate of corruption" created by some officials of the university. "I am hurt by the actions of Prof. Hegde and Prof. Ananthan," he said in the letter.

Dr. Mahadev had accused Prof. Hegde of receiving Rs. 3.5 lakhs from Dr. Ramadas for "buying a site" in Mysore. Also, the Vice-Chancellor had allowed Prof. Ananthan to demand and receive Rs. 1.64 lakhs for guiding 41 students of TTL College at the rate of Rs. 4,000 per student, he alleged.

Although the Department of Studies in Business Administration is supposed to have guided the students in the normal course, Prof. Ananthan had "illegally" demanded and received Rs. 1.64 lakhs, Dr. Mahadev alleged.

When the TTL College complained against Prof. Ananthan, the Vice-Chancellor allegedly asked it to pay the amount. After the matter came up for discussion during the Syndicate meeting of July 29, the Vice-Chancellor and Prof. Ananthan reportedly asked the TTL College authorities to give a letter to the university stating that the amount had been given out of "goodwill".

Meanwhile, Dr. Ramadas claimed that the e-mail addressed to the Vice-Chancellor on July 30, stating that the payment of Rs. 1.64 lakhs was a gesture of goodwill, was sent under a threat. This apart, Dr. Mahadev had listed a series of charges against Prof. Hegde and urged the Governor to order an inquiry into them.

Dr. Mahadev alleged that the Vice-Chancellor and the Administrative Officer of the university had favoured a tenant of the petrol station on the university premises in return for gratification. Although the lease expired two years ago, no action was taken to get the land vacated, Dr. Mahadev alleged. The Vice-Chancellor was accused of claiming reimbursements from the university and other agencies at the same time for a host of meetings attended in different parts of the country. He also alleged that Prof. Hegde had claimed reimbursements for items that he had purchased for personal use.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

'Rs. 3.5 lakhs paid to Vice-Chancellor'

NSG departure highlights confusion

'STF working with Nagappa's security in mind'

Nagappa's family threatens dharna

Basava Dal offers to talk to Veerappan

JD(S) to take State farmers to Delhi

SAS to cover all municipal councils

Contingency plan for irrigation ready

Drought: CPI(M) to picket govt. offices