UP: Case of fraud registered against Prayagraj-based Agri University VC, other officials

The Special Task Force (STF) of the Uttar Pradesh Police on Thursday registered two FIRs against the Vice-Chancellor of SHUATS, formerly Allahabad Agricultural Institute, and other officials for alleged irregularities in appointments and “misappropriation” of government funds. The FIR was lodged here at Naini police station by STF’s Prayagraj unit’s Deputy Superintendent Navendu Kumar.

The first FIR for “illegal” appointments has been lodged against 12 people, including vice-chancellor RB Lal, and former and present office-bearers of the Sam Higginbottom Agricultural University. technology & Science (SHUATS). According to the FIR, the audit found that between 1984 and 2017, a total of 69 posts of professors, assistant professors and associate professors were recruited without following due process. It has been alleged in the FIR that corrupt practices were done in these appointments by using fake records.

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The second FIR was registered regarding alleged irregularities in the financial system, in which it has been said that the Vice-Chancellor and other administrative officers of the university spent Rs 32 lakh without grant verification. Apart from this, an additional payment of Rs 69 lakh was made on account of salary allowance, traveling expenses, pay fixation, increment etc. Also, over Rs 1.70 crore was paid directly to several firms, the FIR states.

Several officials of the university, including the Vice-Chancellor, are already on the police radar in a case of large-scale ‘illegal’ conversions.

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