COIMBATORE: The Salem city police on Friday questioned Periyar University vice-chancellor R Jagannathan in connection with a misappropriation of funds case registered against him.
Jagannathan appeared before assistant commissioner of police K Ramali Ramalakshmi at her office in Suramangalam after being summoned. He was questioned for at least six hours before being let off.
I Elangovan, legal advisor of the Periyar University Employees Union, lodged a complaint with the Salem city police on Dec 26, 2023, against the V-C, the registrar and two faculty members accusing them of misappropriating the university’s fund by establishing the Periyar University Technology Entrepreneurship and Research Foundation (PUTER).
Elangovan alleged that Jagannathan had established the PUTER for his personal gains. He alleged that the V-C had used a casteist slur against him for questioning it.
Based on his complaint, the police registered a case against Jagannathan under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. The police arrested him on Dec 26, 2023. He got bail on the same day.
He approached the Madras high court to quash the FIR registered against him. But the court refused to quash it. It directed the police to complete the investigation within three months.
Jagannathan was summoned to appear before the police on a day when a vice-chancellors’ conference was held at Udhagamandalam in the Nilgiris district, which was convened by governor R N Ravi.
Jagannathan appeared before assistant commissioner of police K Ramali Ramalakshmi at her office in Suramangalam after being summoned. He was questioned for at least six hours before being let off.
I Elangovan, legal advisor of the Periyar University Employees Union, lodged a complaint with the Salem city police on Dec 26, 2023, against the V-C, the registrar and two faculty members accusing them of misappropriating the university’s fund by establishing the Periyar University Technology Entrepreneurship and Research Foundation (PUTER).
Elangovan alleged that Jagannathan had established the PUTER for his personal gains. He alleged that the V-C had used a casteist slur against him for questioning it.
Based on his complaint, the police registered a case against Jagannathan under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. The police arrested him on Dec 26, 2023. He got bail on the same day.
He approached the Madras high court to quash the FIR registered against him. But the court refused to quash it. It directed the police to complete the investigation within three months.
Jagannathan was summoned to appear before the police on a day when a vice-chancellors’ conference was held at Udhagamandalam in the Nilgiris district, which was convened by governor R N Ravi.
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