MU fails to act on prof over bribe charges

Mangaluru: Despite a committee report headed by a retired district court judge pointing out that the allegations against M Jayashankar, a professor in microbiology, were true in nature, Mangalore University (MU) has failed to take further action.
M Jayashankar had complained to the police that he had given Rs 17.5 lakh to a middleman to get appointed as the vice-chancellor of Raichur University. He alleged that five persons, including a leader of a right-wing outfit, had taken money from him.He later told the police that it was not a bribe but instead charity money towards ‘gaushala’.
The incident took place in March 2021. Currently, he is working as science dean at Mangalore University.
Considering the issue as serious, Mangalore University said it had tarnished the image of the four-decade-old institution and suspended him for six months pending an inquiry.
He was transferred to his parent department in Jnana Kaveri Post Graduate Centre in Kodagu district. Later, the MU syndicate body pressed for a departmental inquiry.
The probe committee was headed by a retired district court judge Bailur Shankara Rama and another person.
The committee, which submitted a report on June 1, 2022, concluded that charges pressed against Jayashankar were true and serious in nature. He has also violated rules of employees of MU, stated the report (a copy of which is available with TOI).
The committee report was tabled during the syndicate meeting held on September 15, 2022.
“However, the meeting failed to discuss the serious issue and instead decided to close the issue with no further action,” said a former syndicate member, who was present during the meeting. “The syndicate members had also suggested that Jayashankar not be given any administrative posts,” said another syndicate member.
Has been cleared by
police, says V-C
PS Yadapadithaya, vice-chancellor of Mangalore University, maintained that Jayashankar had been cleared of all charges by the police department.
Secondly, the report from the probe committed headed by a retired district judge was tabled at the syndicate meeting, but the members decided to close the issue without any action taken against Prof Jayashankar.