Exposing the Scandal: Inside the Financial Misconduct at MP's Rajiv Gandhi Technological University

Bhopal- In Bhopal, the police have intensified their investigation into the scandal unfolding at Rajiv Gandhi Technological University (RGPV), the sole technical university in Madhya Pradesh.

Their focus is on locating former Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sunil Kumar, as part of probing alleged financial irregularities. A lookout notice, issued from Delhi, stands against him, accompanied by a reward of Rs 3,000.

Additionally, notices have been issued for the then Registrar, Rakesh Singh Rajput, and the former Finance Controller, Hrishikesh Verma. Sundar Singh Kanes, from Bhopal DCP Zone 04, has declared similar rewards against them.

Efforts are underway to seize the properties of these individuals, who have remained elusive for 37 days.

The matter at hand revolves around a significant scam uncovered at Rajiv Gandhi Technological University, as detailed in a case registered on March 3 under the directives of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav. Allegations point to five individuals, including the Vice Chancellor, Professor Sunil Kumar, former Registrar RS Rajput, then Finance Controller Hrishikesh Verma, and Bank Manager Mayank, who stand accused of orchestrating transactions exceeding Rs 9.48 crore. This collective misappropriation allegedly saw university funds funnelled into personal accounts.

The breadth of involvement extends from the highest echelons of university administration down to the Registrar, implicating key figures across the board. Amid sustained pressure from Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad activists, CM Yadav initiated decisive action.

Gandhinagar police station in Bhopal hosts the case file, citing violations under sections 420, 467, 468, 120(B), 409, alongside the Corruption Act. While arrests have been made, including individuals such as Kumar Mayank, Ramkumar Raghuvanshi, and Sunil Raghuvanshi, with recoveries and account freezes amounting to significant sums, three key figures remain at large.

Law enforcement efforts are currently focused on locating the absconding trio, for whom a reward of Rs 3,000 each has been announced. Simultaneously, authorities are actively gathering intelligence on their assets, primed for confiscation.

The case took an unexpected turn with the apprehension of Ramkumar Raghuvanshi, formerly an Access Back Manager, and Sunil Raghuvanshi, a member of the Dalit Sangh Suhagpur.

Here's how the scam unfolded:

As per the institution's regulations governing account establishment and committee registration, the signatures of the Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, and Finance Controller are mandatory when initiating a university account at any banking institution. For any financial transactions, including withdrawals or transfers, the consent of two out of these three officials is required.

Rajiv Gandhi Technological University held accounts at the Axis Bank branches situated at Katara Hills in Bhopal and Pipariya in Narmadapuram district.

Shockingly, four Fixed Deposits (FDs), each amounting to Rs 25 crore, were discovered within these accounts. Records from the university's accounts branch indicate that these FDs were initiated on December 16 and 19, 2022, respectively. Remarkably, additional FDs of identical value were established at the Pipariya branch of Axis Bank on March 31, 2022.

Further investigations reveal a disturbing narrative: funds were surreptitiously diverted into private bank accounts under the guise of university transactions, with purported collusion from the bank manager.