BENGALURU: An expert committee constituted by Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), Belagavi, has recommended the suspension of an executive council member appointed by the state government.
Based on allegations of money extortion from a private engineering college in the city during the visit of a local inquiry committee (LIC), VTU constituted an expert committee to conduct an inquiry against the LIC chairman Prof Anand Guruji who is also an executive council member nominated by the state government.
Recently, the expert committee headed by Dr Karisiddappa, Vice-chancellor of VTU, and members Prof Shivalingaiah, Vice-chancellor of Karnataka State Open University Mysore, and Prof V B Coutinho, former vice-chancellor, submitted a report to the state government.
Confirming this to Express, a member of the committee said, “As it has been proved during the inquiry, we have submitted a report recommending the suspension of a government nominee to the executive council who was heading that particular LIC.”
Meanwhile, the LIC chairman did not take part in the inquiry and the committee heard the version of the college. The principal of the college also filed a complaint with Lokayukta a few days ago.
The case
An LIC headed by Prof Anand Guruji was assigned to visit AMC Engineering College on Bannerghatta Road. During the visit, the committee chairman allegedly demanded `25 lakh from the college management. The college principal filed a complaint with the Vice-chancellor and also at Raj Bhavan. He also provided CCTV footage with the complaint. Following media reports, higher education minister Basavaraja Rayareddi directed the university to constitute an expert committee and conduct an inquiry.