Sambalpur University Vice-Chancellor Sanjiv Mittal, who has become controversial since the day he took over the post, is in news again for returning Rs 29 lakh to the university account that he illegally transferred to his son’s and wife’s accounts earlier.
After the illegal transfer of money came to light, complains were lodged before Chancellor of universities and Governor Dr Ganeshi Lal and authorities of the Higher Education Department and as per instruction from higher-ups, VC Mittal is said to have refunded the money.
As per information, from the fund of Swatchha Vidyalay Abhiyan Prakalp, the VC had transferred Rs 25 lakh to his son Tanmay Mittal’s account on November 18, 2021 vide cheque number 408894 from university’s account number 40199742414. The VC again transferred Rs 4 lakh to his wife Sunita Mittal’s account on December 12, 2021 vide cheque number 408896.
Recently, a committee from the Higher Education Department had inquired into the matter. This apart, the committee also inquired into various other allegations against Mittal and submitted its report to the concerned authorities.
Notably, South Eastern Coalfields Ltd, Bilashpur (CG) has given Rs 33.44 lakh to Sambalpur University and the VC has transferred the fund to his son’s and wife’s accounts for reasons best known to him as university authorities are not giving any information about the fund transfer. Even the VC himself is not responding to telephone calls.
There is a series of allegations against the VC during his one and a half years’ tenure. The prime ones are abetment to murder, burning of valuable books of library on the plea of old books, chopping of trees from the campus, purchase of old model computers at higher prices, D Lit degree to a businessman, low quality Gold Medals to meritorious students during the last convocation to swindle money.