Gauhati University dismisses allegations of fund misappropriation

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Gauhati University has vehemently denied allegations of misappropriation of funds received for the Centre for South East Asian Studies in 2017. In an official statement, the university termed the reports as “fallacious and mischievous” and slammed the dragging of Vice Chancellor Prof. Nani Gopal Mahanta’s name into the controversy as a “deep-rooted conspiracy.”

The university clarified that it receives government grants in its current account, which are regularly audited by auditors from the Local Fund and Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). The grant of Rs. 1 crore was deposited on March 31, 2017, directly into the university’s examination account and later transferred to the Centre’s bank account with the approval of the then Vice Chancellor.

The university authorities reiterated that “there was no financial mismanagement or irregularities during the relevant period as alleged, and rather, it is a conspiracy with malicious and sinister design behind it, that too raised after long eight years, to tarnish the image of the present vice chancellor and the entire university.”

The authorities said that the Centre for South East Asian Studies was established in 2017 under the financial assistance of the Government of Assam. The centre aims to promote dialogue and generate knowledge networks to understand the challenges and opportunities faced by India, particularly North East India, in relation to East and South-East Asia. The centre has organized various notable activities, including student exchange programmes with Thammasat University and a short-term diploma course on machine learning and pattern recognition for students from the National University of Laos.

Recently, the centre hosted a delegation of 32 academicians and officials from 15 different universities in Thailand to discuss potential areas of cooperation. The centre regularly arranges programmes on subjects of national and international significance.

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