Governor’s clean-up act, Karnataka University vice-chancellor arrested

Hubli: In the first move by Governor Vajubhai Vala to tackle corruption, Lokayukta police arrested Karnataka University vice-chancellor Dr H.B. Walikar and three others on Monday over charges of misappropriation of funds and misuse of power, after the Justice Padmaraj Commission, appointed by the Governor to probe the corruption charges against the vice-chancellor, found him in violation of norms over the appointment of 110 lecturers.

Dr Walikar has been sent to judicial custody till Tuesday. He said “I have not done anything wrong. It’s all caste politics.” Also detained were the vice-chancellor’s personal secretary S.L. Bilagi, the university finance department officer Rajashree and registrar of evaluation, H.D. Pote.

Lokayukta police initiated the move after the commission, in a report submitted to the Governor concluded that the lecturers were appointed, despite the code of conduct being in force during elections to West Graduate constituency in June this year. The university registrar Dr Chandrama Kanagali had filed a complaint to the Lokayukta against the vice-chancellor as per the direction of Governor Vajubhai Vala.

The vice-chancellor has also been accused of issuing the contract for construction of buildings in the campus without calling for tenders and violating the prevailing transparency act. The vice-chancellor is also facing corruption charges on the purchase of non-tearable marks cards, automation items, laboratory equipment and networking components for the university. Dr Walikar had filed a writ petition in Dharwad High Court bench questioning the decision of Governor to order probe against him. The tenureof the vice-chancellor ends on October 25.