Embezzler V-C on the run after NBW

Prof P C Deka, vice-chancellor of Tezpur University, a Central university set up under the Assam Accord of 1985, is reportedly absconding following a non-bailable arrest warrant issued against him for alleged misappropriation of a huge sum of money when he was dean of the Assam Agricultural University AAU two years back.

Prof P C Deka, vice-chancellor of Tezpur University, a Central university set up under the Assam Accord of 1985, is reportedly absconding following a non-bailable arrest warrant issued against him for alleged misappropriation of a huge sum of money when he was dean of the Assam Agricultural University AAU two years back.

Deka, according to an FIR lodged by authorities of the Jorhat-based Assam Agricultural University on August 4, had allegedly opened an account violating varsity norms and deposited cheques worth several lakh rupees issued as grant by ONGCL and other agencies. He was dean at AAU from April 2000 to June 2004 before being selected

V-C of Tezpur University.

Jorhat SP Surendra Kumar said a case was registered against him under sections 420, 409 and 403 of the IPC, following which a team of policemen from Jorhat went to Tezpur on August 6. While police seized several documents from his residence, Deka was not available for interrogation. His wife apparently told police that Deka had disappeared on August 5. The police asked her to convey to Deka that he should cooperate with the investigation.

The police have, meanwhile, seized records of the secret account from the UBI, Jorhat as well as other documents from the AAU. Deka, getting air of the non-bailable arrest warrant, is understood to have approached the Gauhati High Court for an anticipatory bail. But the Jorhat police, too, have requested the court not to grant him bail.

Interestingly, as the AAU authorities detected the account, its V-C S S Baghel wrote to Deka regarding the 8216;8216;irregularity8217;8217;. Surprisingly, Deka accepted the 8216;8216;irregularity8217;8217; and even returned an amount of Rs 29,79,000 to the AAU through two cheques.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said no leniency should be shown to the Vice-Chancellor if he was found guilty. The CM, however, said the government will not interfere in the investigation of a serious allegation involving a person of this rank.