Odisha Governor Gives Approval For Action Against Ex-VC Of Sambalpur University

Sambalpur: Governor of Odisha Prof Ganeshi Lal has given his approval for initiating action against former vice-chancellor (VC) of the Sambalpur University (SU) Sanjiv Mittal for alleged financial irregularities.

Registrar of the university Nruparaj Sahu confirmed the direction of the Governor who is the Chancellor of universities. “On the basis of the direction issued by the office of the Governor and Chancellor, we have decided to hold a meeting of the syndicate on October 18. The syndicate will take a decision on the action to be taken on the matter,” TNIE quoted him as saying.

Mittal had tendered his resignation from the post on medical ground on August 28 after going on long leave in the wake of several allegations including financial irregularities against him. The Governor had accepted the resignation and ordered that the Chairman of PG Council of Sambalpur University will continue as in-charge Vice-Chancellor till regular VC joins or until further orders.

Lajpat Rai Law College Alumni Association has lodged an FIR against Mittal accusing him of embezzling funds from the college, Burla police has filed a case against him over the self-immolation of the university’s contractual employee Dinabandhu Mishra.

Mittal was accused of embezzling funds from Rs 33.34 lakh sanctioned by Bilaspur-based South Eastern Coalfields Ltd for implementation of Swachh Vidyalaya Abhiyan Prakalp. Mittal, who was the VC during that period, allegedly appointed himself as the project implementing officer and got the funds transferred from the account of Comptroller of Finance to the project account.

Subsequently, then VC transferred Rs 25 lakh to his wife’s account and Rs 4 lakh to his son’s account in November last year. An inquiry into the allegations was also conducted on the direction from the Governor.

Burla police had also filed a case against Mittal over the self-immolation of the university’s contractual employee Dinabandhu Mishra.

Mittal, who served as a professor in the University School of Management Studies in Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, New Delhi, was appointed as Sambalpur University VC in January 2021.