Cuttack: A complaint has been lodged with the police by Cuttack Collector Dattatreya Bhausaheb Shinde against an assistant professor of Ravenshaw University for allegedly forging the then Collector’s signature in 2019.
According to sources, prior to the twin polls in Odisha in 2019, when the code of conduct was enforced, the assistant professor in Odia department had sought 11 days leave from the university registrar to attend a refresher course at a university in Rajasthan.
However, the Ravenshaw University authorities advised her to get her leave sanctioned either from the District Election Officer or from Cuttack Collector, as the model code of conduct was in force.
Instead of following the advice of the authorities, the assistant professor allegedly forged the Collector’s signature, requesting relief from election duty from April 9-19, 2019, and availed leave. However, after five years, when the present Collector Shinde came to know about the incident, he reportedly lodged a complaint against her at Lalbag Police Station. Shinde assumed office as Cuttack Collector in August last, sources revealed.
“The letter and signature were found to be forged. No such permission was ever granted by the deputy election officer,” Cuttack DCP Jagmohan Meena said
No reaction was available from the university or the assistant professor on the issue.
