Crores of rupees swindled in Basar RGUKT

Corrupt officials and contractors colluded together and swindled crores of rupees of public funds from Rajiv Gandhi University of Knowledge Technologies (RGUKT) in Basara.

Vigilance and Enforcement wing of the state government has reportedly found mismanagement of funds worth Rs. 60 crores out of the Rs. 160 crores spent on various heads.

The swindlers took advantage of official apathy and lack of political will to commit the crime, sources said.

According to sources, some corrupt officials and a handful of contractors colluded together and created artificial need to take some works though there was no such requirement. Between 2014 and 2019, the group of scamsters spent Rs. 160 crores on various heads such as setting up solar plant, buying 300 air conditioners, cooking vessels, shoes, socks and high mast lights.

Sources said the solar plant did not start functioning, while exaggerated purchases were shown against cooking vessels.

Further, it was found that faulty parts were covered with cabinets and shown as branded air conditioners. But the same were never installed in the rooms. Similarly, over 1000 pairs of substandard shoes and socks were not even distributed to the students.

Vigilance and Enforcement officials are learnt to have detected fraud in records to cover up embezzlement of funds. It is true that funds have been mismanaged in the university in the name of works and purchases that were not at all necessary, in-charge vice-chancellor, Prof. V. Venkataramana admitted and said that he would submit a report to the government as soon as he receives the vigilance and enforcement enquiry report.