Former V-C Maheshappa may face criminal case

BELAGAVI: The Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) management is mulling registering a criminal case against former vice-chancellor H Maheshappa, based on the report given by the Justice K N Keshav Narayan Committee.
Two years ago, a one-man fact-finding committee appointed by governor Vajubhai Vala gave a detailed report on financial irregularities in VTU, based on which the governor suspended the vice-chancellor in March 2016.

According to internal VTU sources, the committee discovered the salary paid on behalf of the university to 30 non-employees of VTU for many years. The report also mentioned the role of officials of the finance department and bank officials in many financial scams.

The VTU executive council held a meeting on March 19 and 20 exclusively to discuss the report given by the fact-finding committee, and initiate action based on the report. HN Jagannath Reddy, VTU registrar, denied disclosing decisions of the executive council meeting, saying it’s an internal matter of the university.

Apart from the V-C, four officials of the finance department have already been suspended by the governor, based on the committee report. Another officer of the finance department close to H Maheshappa tendered his resignation recently, fearing a criminal case, but VTU hasn’t accepted his resignation. Sources said eight more officials in the finance department are likely to face the music once the inquiry begins.

At present, H Maheshappa is general secretary of the Congress IT cell and a ticket aspirant from Harihar constituency. VTU initiating criminal procedure against him could jeopardize his chances of getting a ticket.

According to Vijaykumar Kuchanure, nominated member of the VTU executive council, the recent meeting decided to accept the report given by the fact-finding committee and initiate further action.