GIPE row: SIS starts financial scrutiny; president takes over charge of secretary

Addressing the media, Sahoo and Atmanand Mishra, the vice-president of SIS, said they have decided to continue this arrangement till June 2025, when the annual session of the society would take place. Mishra said the police have informed him that a forensic audit of the transactions of the society would be carried out. “We are sure that the truth will come out after that,” he said. Mishra along with senior members Ramakant Lanka, and Gangadhar Sahoo formed the financial committee. They would independently audit the transactions and scrutinize the documents held under Deshmukh’s care.

Mishra claimed that Deshmukh, who since then had been arrested had become “superfluous”. A visibly emotional Sahoo denied any wrongdoing and said the decisions were taken in accordance with the council members. However, both appeared to be evasive when asked about the particulars especially in terms of transfer of money from the GIPE for free holding of the SIS’s land in Nagpur as well as other norms. “The decisions were taken in good faith,” they said.

Sahoo denied any nepotism in recruitment where some family members have been given jobs in SIS. “A proper process was followed in each and every recruitment–and they came with requisite qualification as well recommendations from senior members,” he said.  A written press note issued denied any involvement of the president in the financial transactions. This was in response to allegations of financial irregularities made against Sahoo by GIPE.

Deshmukh has been arrested by the Pune Police over charges of financial irregularities. SIS and GIPE have been at loggerheads over the past few days with regards to the appointment and suspension of Chancellor Sanjeev Sanyal. SIS had removed Sanyal from his position only to reinstate him. Sanyal on his part had accused SIS of renting out properties as well as corrupt practices.