CBI registers case against ex-VC of Viswa Bharati

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday conducted search operations at nine different places in Shantiniketan, Kolkata and Bhubaneswar while probing into the allegation against of violating norms by the former Vice-Chancellor of Vishwa Bharati Sushanta Kumar Dattagupta to appoint a deputy registrar.

The CBI has also registered a case against  Dattagupta. The officers searched different offices of the varsity and residence of the then V-C Dattagupta and other officials those were his close associates.

It may be recalled that the central investigating agency had registered a case against him and other 

top brass of the varsity including the then registrar, finance officer and deputy registrar. 

Case was started against them under section 120B of the Indian penal Code (IPC) based on the allegation that they had entered into a criminal conspiracy to appoint Shyamala Ray Nair as a deputy registrar by violating the rules set by the University Grants Commission. Allegations were raised that the deputy registrar was appointed despite she was not having the required educational qualification. 

The CBI officers on Tuesday conducted the search operation to get relevant information and documents related to the case. A team of 15 CBI officers went to the varsity in Shantiniketan. They divided themselves into three groups and searched Rabindra Bhavan, Central Bhavan and the new Central Bhavan in Shantiniketan. One of the groups had also searched the residence of Dattagupta.

Another set of officers of the investigating agency had searched the offices of the varsity and residences of other officials in two different places in Kolkata. Two offices were also being searched in Bhubaneswar in Odisha. 

 Sources said that the CBI officers have taken many documents along with them after searching all the places. 

The investigating officers may summon some officials for questioning after going through the seized documents.