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| Rs. 120 crore financial embezzlements in SKUAST,Raj Bhawan unimpressed! | | Hanging scapegoats? | | Syed Junaid Hashmi
JAMMU, Dec 6: Raj Bhawan, which ordered a high profile inquiry immediately after the sound system of Jammu University failed in the presence of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, is unimpressed by over Rs. 120 crore financial embezzlements which took place in SKUAST Jammu during the period from April 2006 to September 2009.
Ironically, Raj Bhawan has seemingly consoled itself with the purported belief that accused have been booked by the State Vigilance Organization (SVO). However, documentary evidence accessed by Early Times reveals that the belief of Raj Bhawan is misplaced and those who names have appeared in the challans of SVO have been made scapegoats to save alleged kingpins of the Rs. 120 crore financial mismanagement.
SVO sources confirmed that SKUAST by denying sanction for prosecution of five top officials has scuttled the probe. Evidence reveals that the then DRI-cum-Dean PGS and presently, Director National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) Dr. Anil Kumar Srivastava alongwith Dr. Arvind Kumar Bakshi who was them Director Research and presently, Vice-Chancellor (VC) of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology were both aware of codal formalities and knew everything from financial allotments to execution of works in SKUAST.
The man, who is presently heading one of the country's prestigious institution, was absolved of all alleged financial bungling by acting Vice-Chancellor of SKUAST Dr. B.Mishra of all charges when he refused to grant SVO sanction for prosecution of both Dr. Anil Kumar Srivastava and Dr. Arvind Kumar Bakshi alongwith four other top officials of the university.
Special comprehensive audit conducted which was ordered by the state government and whose report lying with Raj Bhawan has revealed that over Rs. 120 crore was utilized by SKUAST in complete violation of codal formalities. Dr. Anil Kumar Srivastava, being Chairman of all committees constituted by the university administration (read Vice-Chancellor Dr. Nagender Sharma) alongwith other five officials knew well about the utilization of funds.
Committees which he headed included works committee, purchase committee, library advisory committee and several other recruitment committee especially those dealing with appointment of non-teaching staff. Audit report at Page 14 explains this. Dr. Anil Kumar Srivastava accorded sanction for authorized expenditure of Rs. 27,000. This money was paid for giving refreshment to different officers of SKUAST and also private persons visiting him on different occasions.
Even a small amount of Rs. 1000 was paid to a private trust namely 'Dr.C.M.Singh Endowment Trust" on account of fee for lifetime membership of Dr. A.K.Srivastava from the University account. When audit team took up the issue with SKUAST management, such was University's interest in saving Srivastava that the same was shown to have been recovered from him.
The audit further revealed that as Chairman of various committees, Srivastava should have been asked to explain unpaid claims amounting to Rs. 2845.43 lacs and their clearance as well. It has disclose that contracts were allotted for construction of museum and faculty blocks no. 7 and 8 on repeat order basis without inviting tenders and specific funds, thereby creating liability of Rs. 794 lacs.
Irregular allotment of construction works worth Rs. 19.87 lakh in violation of codal provisions and cannons of financial propriety was also detected. Besides, audit also found out irregular issuance of advances to the tune of Rs. 6.68 lacs for medical leave without sanction of the competent authority. Of this amount, Rs 5 lakh gulped by ex-VC Dr. Nagender Sharma.
Audit found out irregular payment of Rs. 70, 500 to Bhojanwale Shakti Nagar Jammu without inviting tenders and non-deducting of service tax of Rs. 5922. It got to know hat advertisements were got published in the local as well as national newspaper involving a private agency irregularly, thereby incurring a huge expenditure of Rs. 18.37 lacs in violation of standing codal procedures and on exorbitant rates.
Irregular payment worth Rs. 273.46 lacs made on hand receipts on account of departmental work executed through piece workers/mates misuse of HR forms. Irregular payment of Rs. 16.20 lacs was made to ThyssenKrupp Elevator (India) Chandigarh on account of supply, installation, testing and commissioning of two passenger elevators.
This order was placed without inviting tenders and ascertaining reasonable rates.
Audit also noted irregular execution of works worth Rs. 6355.32 lacs in anticipation of technical sanction and in complete violation of codal procedure. It disclosed that allotment of works for providing and laying of water supply distribution system at FOA main campus Chatha worth Rs. 120 lacs was also done on repeat order basis and without inviting tenders and ascertaining genuine reasonable rates.
Unauthorized expenditure of Rs. 27000 incurred on account of refreshment charges by the faculty of veterinary sciences and Animal Husbandry, Irregular purchase/expenditure of Rs. 4,08, 619 at the close of financial year 2006-07 just to avoid lapse of funds-stock in anticipation of receipt of the material, Huge outstanding worth Rs. 33.26 lacs of advances paid to the officers of SKUAST Jammu at the close of the financial year 2007-08 and irregular drawal of non-practicing allowance to the tune of Rs. 1.60 lacs and recovery thereof has also been unveiled by audit team. |
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