Unlike e-tendering scam no arrests will be made in the Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Mass Communication (MCU)- at least for now. A senior official of MPSEDC (Madhya Pradesh State Electronic Development Corporation) was arrested after FIR was filed in e-tender scam. The arrest was made within 24 hours of filing the FIR in e-tender scam, whereas in MCU irregularities case no action has been taken even after filing of FIR on Sunday.
Economic Offences Wing will be sending notices to all 20 accused including former VC BK Kuthiala against whom the FIR has been lodged. All accused will get time to file their replies. No arrests are expected to be made till then. SP EOW Arun Mishra said that notice will be issued within a day or two.
On the other hand, discussions are also on that names of less influential people have appeared in the FIR while heavyweights like RSS ideologue Rakesh Sinha have been spared. The university appointed Sinha on deputation from October 2017 to March 2018. It is alleged that very lucrative payments were given to him during this period. Appointments of Vyapam accused Rakesh Pandey and Ashish Joshi too were done throwing all rules to winds but their names haven’t appeared in the FIR till date.
Former VC Kuthiala takes responsibility
Former vice chancellor, Brij Kishore Kuthiala has taken responsibility of all activities of his tenure. Kuthiala issued a statement saying that as a VC and head of the institute he takes responsibility of all actions. He claimed that all decisions were taken abiding UGC norms, state government and university rules.
In his statement he said that he has heard that FIR has been lodged against him and 19 others. The basis of the FIR was an inquiry report of a three member committee. Strange enough, the ‘accused’ were not given a chance for clarification, which is against law of natural justice. Kuthiala wrote that he will cooperate with authorities and truth will come out.