TISS Pro-VC Prof Shankar Das told to step down after ‘financial misappropriation’ complaint with Central Vigilance Commission

While TISS administration was unavailable for a comment, according to sources within the institution, the action follows preliminary findings by an internal committee formed after the CVC forwarded a complaint submitted by a whistleblower.

“A committee was constituted by the TISS administration after the CVC forwarded the whistleblower’s complaint. During the preliminary phase of the investigation, the committee found merit in the allegations, prompting the decision to relieve Prof Das of his administrative duties to avoid any potential influence on the ongoing inquiry,” a source familiar with the matter said.

Meanwhile, in a written response to the query sent to him by The Indian Express about the allegations, Prof Das said, “I am deeply pained and shocked by the baseless allegations being circulated against me. After having served this institution with utmost sincerity and dedication for 35 years – as a student, a faculty member, and most recently as Pro Vice-Chancellor – this comes as a grave personal and professional affront.”

“In all these years, my record has remained unblemished. I have consistently upheld the highest standards of integrity and commitment to this institution. The timing and nature of these allegations, especially in the absence of a sitting Vice-Chancellor for the past two years, raise serious concerns and compel me to believe this is a targeted attempt to malign my reputation,” he further said.

Prof Das teaches at the School of Health Systems Studies at TISS. He is known for his work in the public health sector, particularly in primary care and professional education. As TISS is currently awaiting a new full-time Vice-Chancellor, Prof Das was being considered as one of the candidates for the post. Prof Das was also given interim charge of Vice Chancellor of the Gokhle Institute of Politics and Economics in Pune for the past eight months.