PANJIM: A high level inquiry
into financial irregularities at Goa University (GU) has resulted into
suspension of a former Head and Dean of Commerce Faculty Professor B Ramesh. The
professor is charged with the alleged fraud committed way back in 2005 year.
According to the case
details, Prof Ramesh was assigned to conduct 63rd All India Commerce
Conference in October 2010 for which the varsity sanctioned an amount of Rs 5
lakh while he mobilized the remaining amount for conference through sponsorships
from various organizations in and outside Goa.
GU sources told Herald that
he failed to submit Audited Accounts of the Conference even after five years of
the national conference which was a precondition from the University while
approving the Conference. “Considering it as a serious matter, the GU
instructed him to submit audited accounts in 2015 within one month. He then
submitted Audited Accounts (external auditor) in May 2015 and it was placed
before the Internal Auditor (IA) of the University for further scrutiny and to
ascertain the accuracy of preparation of accounts. The IA found several serious
financial irregularities and lapses in preparing Accounts,” he said.
The IA report was thereafter
placed before GU Executive Council (EC) in the very same year. The EC took
serious view of the matter and sought clarification from the professor, whose
explanation did not convince the authorities. “He was once again asked to
submit his clarification, which was then placed before the reconstituted EC on
October 31, 2016. Considering the seriousness of the matter in terms of
financial irregularities EC decided to constitute One Member Enquiry Committee,
Suspend Prof Ramesh during the enquiry period and to send a letter to GTDC to
obtain no dues certificate for using their accommodation,” the official said.
Accordingly, Vice Chancellor
Varun Sahni appointed One Member Enquiry Committee and suspended the former HoD
on January 31 besides complying with other recommendations of the EC.
This is the second suspension
in the last one month as an associate professor Anugraha Mohapatra was
suspended for his alleged involvement in a case of sexual harassment.
