Two Punjab professors arrested, ₹3.5 lakh recovered after inspection in Himachal
Pharmacy professors Rakesh Chawla and Puneet Bansal, working with Baba Farid University and Central University, Bathinda, respectively, were returning from Palampur when they were caught by HP vigilance team.
{Pharmaceutical institute inspection} Palampur
Strap: Pharmacy professors Rakesh Chawla and Puneet Bansal, working with BFUHS and Central University, Bathinda, respectively, were returning from Palampur when they were caught by HP vigilance team near Dehra
The Himachal Pradesh Police’s vigilance department has arrested two pharmacy professors from Punjab, Rakesh Chawla and Puneet Bansal, working with Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS) and Central University (CU), Bathinda, respectively, for taking undue favours from a Kangra-based pharmaceutical institute where they had conducted an inspection recently.
While Chawala has been suspended by BFUHS, CU has said that it will initiate action against Bansal.
The two professors were caught with ₹3.5 lakh at a check post in Rakkad, Dehra, following an inspection for which they were deputed by the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) in Himachal Pradesh. The professors were returning from the inspection at Sai School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, a constituent of Shri Sai University, Palampur. The PCI had deputed the professors to evaluate the university’s application to commence a new pharmacy course.
Chawla, who belongs to Faridkot, and Puneet of Barnala were arrested on Sunday, vigilance officials said, adding that they acted on a tip-off.
The officials said that the accused were unable to explain the source of the money. A case was registered under Section 13(2) of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1998 (as amended in 2018), has been registered against both of them at the state vigilance and anti-corruption bureau, Dharamshala. “Investigation is underway,” SP, vigilance and anti-corruption bureau, Balbir Singh said.
BFUHS suspends Chawla
BFUHS vice-chancellor Prof Rajeev Sood on Wednesday said the faculty member Chawla has been suspended.
Chawla, who heads the pharmaceutical chemistry department of the university institute of pharmaceutical sciences and research (UIPSR), a constituent college of BFUHS was on a long vacation.
Sood said Chawla was on vacation and the BFUHS administration had no information that he was deputed on any inspection in the hill state.
“As per the standard practice, if a faculty member of the BFUHS has to visit any academic campus for any official assignment, he has to take prior permission for the same. Following media reports on Chawla getting arrested by the vigilance department of the HP police, the university took suo motu notice of the development and initiated a probe. UIPSR principal submitted a report that states that the institute had no official communication from any quarters as to who deployed Chawla for the said inspection and how he visited the said institute when he was on vacation,” the V-C said.
Sood clarified that BFUHS has not received any official information from the police on Chawla’s arrest. “Media reports say a driver from Faridkot has also been arrested. The said driver is working on a contract with BFUHS and our official record says he was not sent on duty to HP,” the V-C added.
CUP yet to take action against Bansal
Central University of Punjab (CUP), Bathinda, vice-chancellor Prof RP Tiwari said that the varsity administration will initiate action against Puneet Kumar Bansal, a professor in the department of pharmacology, as per the rules. V-C said Bansal was granted a leave duty by the university for his scheduled inspection visit to Himachal Pradesh.
“We cannot comment on what happened on the official trip as it is a legal matter. But we are keeping a close watch on the development,” Tiwari said. V-C added that the university received an email on Wednesday from Bansal for an extension of leave. “Leave has not been extended as he is in the police custody. In his email, Bansal has claimed innocence,” the V-C said.