MU V-C’s office, home searched in graft case, ₹95 lakh seized

According to SVU officials, preliminary investigation suggests the vice-chancellor has been involved in corrupt practices

The Special Vigilance Unit (SVU) of the Bihar Police on Wednesday searched the office and residences of Magadh University vice-chancellor Rajendra Prasad in Bodh Gaya and his native place Gorakhpur in connection with a corruption case and seized ₹95 lakh, besides incriminating evidence, officials said.

Magadh University office in Patna. (Santosh Kumar)

According to SVU officials, preliminary investigation suggests the vice-chancellor has been involved in corrupt practices and violated the rule of the financial department and purchased items worth ₹20 crore without any verification and audit. When the financial officer of the MU tried to intervene in his illegal purchase and refused to sanction the amount, the V-C managed to oust him from university service and posted another officer of his choice.

Besides the V-C, the SVU has also registered a case against his private assistant Subodh Kumar under sections 120 B (criminal conspiracy) and 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code, besides relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

Additional director general (SVU) N H Khan said Prasad had purchased items through a Lucknow-based company whose owners were his relatives. The SVU also found that the MU has only 47 guards but the administration shows 86 guards.

“Papers of properties worth ₹1 crore and ₹95 lakh in cash were seized from his native place. Sleuths are interrogating Prasad at his official residence,” said an official of the probe team.