Nagpur: The Nagpur University has initiated a departmental inquiry against its former registrar Ashok Gomase, during whose term the Rs60crore scholarship scam involving Central India Institute of Mass Communication (CIIMC) surfaced.
The one-member panel of retired district and session judge Vijay Dande would be holding its first hearing at NU’s main building on March 19.
On December 6, 2017, the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court had directed setting up of the panel to probe into the alleged scholarship scam at CIIMC run by NU mass communication board ex-chairman Sunil Mishra. During an earlier hearing, the court had also directed NU to serve a charge sheet to Gomashe.
Registrar Puran Meshram told TOI that Gomashe was served the first show cause notice on July 8, 2016. Before this, the management council had initiated the process to disaffiliate CIIMC and start a departmental inquiry against Gomashe. On January 28, 2016, the motion to disaffiliate CIIMC was opposed 3/2 in the academic council in view of the PIL in the case.
Meshram said Gomashe has failed to reply to repeated show-cause notices issued to him while the charge sheet too was already handed over to him on November 13, 2017.
The NU has also asked Shivaji Science College, where Gomashe worked as associate professor, to withhold his pension till the inquiry is pending.
As per the NU charge sheet, Gomashe misused his post by issuing a letter for fee enhancement to CIIMC director Mishra. It also held the former registrar responsible for the loss of government funds.
On December 5, 2014, Gomashe in his capacity as NU registrar had issued letter to assistant commissioner of social welfare department regarding hike in tuition fees for 13 courses for 2013-14 and 2014-15 at CIIMC. The CIIMC then procured additional government grant of Rs59,26,033 which has been allegedly misappropriated. Also, five of the 13 courses offered by CIIMC during 2013-14 and 2014-15 had no affiliation.
The charge sheet further states that Gomashe acted with a view to give financial benefit to CIIMC and its director since no such letter (to hike fee) was issued to any other college affiliated to NU.
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