Synopsis
The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption has filed a case against A. Ganapathy, the former Vice-Chancellor of Bharathiar University, for alleged financial misconduct in the purchase of desktop computers. The investigation reveals significant financial losses due to irregular procurement practices involving various accused individuals.Key Takeaways
- DVAC files case against A. Ganapathy.
- Allegations involve irregularities in computer procurement.
- Financial loss estimated at Rs 8,01,581.
- Multiple individuals implicated in the case.
- Legal provisions invoked include IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act.
Chennai, March 12 (NationPress) The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) has initiated legal proceedings against the former Vice-Chancellor of Bharathiar University, A. Ganapathy (73), along with other individuals, for alleged misconduct related to the acquisition of desktop computers.
A. Ganapathy has been designated as the second accused in this case, while the former finance officer of the university, P. Velusamy (61), is the primary accused.
The legal case has been filed under Sections 120(B), 167, and 420 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), in conjunction with Sections 13(2) read with 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. This case concerns the procurement of 61 desktop computers during the financial year 2016–17, which purportedly inflicted a wrongful loss of Rs 8,01,581 on the university.
Investigations have disclosed that the purchase committee, which included several of the accused, sanctioned the procurement from private vendors at inflated prices, in violation of Financial and Accounts Rules. University procurement guidelines stipulate that materials should be sourced from government-controlled institutions, prison department units, industrial cooperative societies, or other approved entities without quotations.
Nonetheless, the purchase committee allegedly ignored these rules and procured the equipment from private vendors. The university acquired 41 HP desktop computers, one server, one 10 KVA online UPS, and one 1 KVA online UPS equipped with inbuilt batteries and networking accessories from M/s I Care, despite the firm being the highest bidder in 2016 for the establishment of the Linguistics Department’s phonetic lab.
Investigations indicate that each HP desktop was purchased at a price of Rs 11,463 higher than the rate offered by ELCOT (Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu), resulting in a financial loss of Rs 5,71,241. Similarly, in 2017, the Department of Statistics procured 20 desktop computers for Rs 9 lakh, funded by the Department of Science and Technology. However, the computers were purchased from M/s Micro System for Rs 8.7 lakh, with each unit costing Rs 11,517 more than ELCOT’s price, leading to a loss of Rs 2,30,340. In total, the losses from these purchases are estimated at Rs 8,01,581.
In addition to A. Ganapathy and P. Velusamy, 15 other individuals, including university officials and private vendors, have been implicated in the case. The DVAC has lodged cases against the accused under the relevant provisions of the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act, citing collusion, financial mismanagement, and causing financial loss to the university.
