V-C to be Probed After Arunachal State Seeks Removal

By Anubhuti Vishnoi

New Delhi, Jun 8 : The Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry has set up a committee to probe allegations against the vice-chancellor of a central university in Arunachal Pradesh, after the state government requested he be removed.

Prof K C Beliappa, the vice-chancellor of Rajiv Gandhi University in Itanagar, was arrested late last month on account of the charges and is now out on bail.

Beliappa has been accused of sending sexually explicit and abusive e-mails to a female colleague. Inefficiency, autocratic behavior, immoral conduct and drunkenness are other allegations leveled against him.

Arunachal has said Beliappa’s “gross misconduct” is embarrassing and is also bringing disrepute to the varsity and V-C’s office. Beliappa, now in Delhi, was appointed when the varsity was given central status in 2007. Rejecting allegations, he claims, he requested the HRD Ministry to set up a fact-finding committee, which they did.

This January angry students beat Beliappa with rods. With the student unions demanding his ouster, Beliappa has since then largely been confined to his residence. He claims “powerful people” in the state are conspiring against him and also passing illegal orders and making appointments in contravention of UGC rules.

“I am being targeted. The violence is being funded by some powerful people in the state,” Beliappa said, adding he saw no point in returning even though his term ends in 2012.

“My mobile was stolen by some students and sexually explicit messages sent to people. It is true that I received a sexually explicit mail from a female colleague... I did not know then that her account was hacked, so in the heat of the moment I responded in anger and it led to my arrest,” Beliappa said.