Date:29/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/29/stories/2007062959530900.htm

Tamil Nadu

Vigilance probe into Madurai varsity scam

Shastry V. Mallady and S. Vijay Kumar

MADURAI: The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption has begun a probe into alleged financial irregularities in Madurai Kamaraj University involving the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development (CED), earlier attached to it.

Official sources told TheHindu here on Thursday that the agency had asked Madurai Kamaraj University Vice-Chancellor P. Maruthamuthu to submit a report.

Taking suo motu cognizance of complaints pertaining to “misappropriation” of funds to the tune of Rs. 1.2 crore, DVAC sleuths met Dr. Maruthamuthu on Wednesday and sought details of memorandum of understanding signed by the CED and its financial transactions in recent years.

Queries raised

Asking the varsity authorities to explain why R. Jayaraman was allowed to continue as the Head of Department of Entrepreneurship Studies, the investigators also enquired about the role of five former vice-chancellors in the issue.

The activities of the CED and circumstances under which it was delinked from the university were being enquired into.

When contacted, DVAC officials confirmed they had started a “detailed enquiry,” and sought the support of MKU. The Madras High Court had declined to interfere with the university’s action against Dr. Jayaraman.

“Full co-operation”

Dr. Maruthamuthu said he was consulting legal experts before replying to the investigating agency. “We will extend full cooperation to the vigilance officials and submit available evidence.”

MKU sources said a formal letter would soon be sent to Dr. Jayaraman, removing him from the post of the Head of the Department of Entrepreneurship Studies.