One-man panel to probe Visva Bharati corruption charges

Kolkata, Jan 3 : The central government has formed a one-man committee of noted educationist Ramaranjan Mukherjee to probe allegations of corruption against Visva Bharati Vice-chancellor Rajat Kanta Roy and some of the university senior officials.

"I have received the letter of appointment for the probe committee from the union human resources development ministry. I have been asked to submit the report within three months," Mukherjee told IANS.

University Grants Commission (UGC) deputy secretary Shakeel Ahmed will be the member-secretary of the committee.

The committee will not only probe the charges of corruption but also of nepotism against some university officials.

"I have been asked to probe both charges of corruption and nepotism. I have to talk to the UGC and to the member-secretary of the probe committee before starting my investigation. It is not so easy. I will talk to each and every one related either directly or indirectly to the probe," said Mukherjee, a former vice-chancellor of Rabindra Bharati and Burdawan universities.

The committee was formed in the wake of a strike by Visva Bharati employees last October demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the allegations against the vice-chancellor and some other officials.

Nobel laureate Rabindra Nath Tagore founded Viswa Bharati University at Santiniketan in Bolpur of Birbhum district.