Telangana University vice-chancellor caught taking Rs 50,000 bribe, held

HYDERABAD: Telangana University vice-chancellor, Dachepalli Ravinder Gupta, was arrested on Saturday after he was trapped by the anti-corruption bureau (ACB) while allegedly accepting a Rs 50,000 bribe from a representative of an educational society. Gupta had allegedly demanded the bribe to allot an examination centre to the college.
This is the first instance in the two Telugu states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh where a vice-chancellor has been arrested on corruption charges. Gupta was appointed to the post in May 2021. Senior ACB officials said Gupta was caught accepting the bribe from D Shankar, president of the Sri Shirdi Sai Educational Society in Armoor town in Nizamabad.
"The money was given at the vice-chancellor's home in Hyderabad's Tarnaka area," an ACB official said.
T he money was recovered from an almirah in bedroom in his presence. A phenolphthalein test yielded positive results, the official said.
After trapping Gupta, ACB teams started searches at his home and office. “A vigilance inquiry is also going on,” ACB DSP Sudarshan said. ACB officials are investigating allegations of Gupta’s involvement in misappropriating `10 crore. He has been accused of purchasing furniture and other equipment with inflated bills.
Besides, he appointed 150-odd staff without involving the university's EC. “All payments were in cash. Some of the outsourced workers were not receiving salaries. Some employees were promoted in violation of rules and he also appointed a registrar without the approval of the executive council,” the ACB official added. Ravinder was produced before an ACB court and sent in judicial remand to Chanchalguda prison.