[Assam] Absconder tag looms on Tezpur V-C

[Pradip Kumar Datta]

Absconder tag looms on V-C
           PRANAB SINHA                            Tezpur, Aug. 7: The vice-chancellor of Tezpur Central University, P.C. Deka, could be staring at the prospect of being declared an absconder if he does not “co-operate” with the police in connection with a case of misappropriation of funds during his tenure as dean of the Assam Agricultural University (AAU). 
           Deka has been untraceable since Saturday, the day after AAU lodged an FIR with Jorhat police, accusing him of financial indiscretion. 
           Sources, however, said he was in Guwahati trying to secure anticipatory bail.
           Police sources here did not rule out initiating steps to have Deka declared an absconder, should he fail to appear before the police. “That the AAU has lodged the FIR only indicates that the chancellor, in this case the state governor, has given him the go-ahead. Technically, central varsities are under the President and if required, we will move Rashtrapati Bhavan,” a source said.
           A Raj Bhavan source, however, said their role in the case was “minimal”. 
           Jorhat police said Deka was facing an economic offence case. “We are examining the records and have asked the family members of the V-C, who is reportedly away from home since August 5, to co-operate with us. The case against him is non-bailable. If he does not turn up and if we get enough evidence against him, we will initiate action against him,” an official said, without specifying the nature of punitive action.
           A seven-member Jorhat police team, headed by deputy superintendent of police Subudh Pathak seized certain documents from Deka’s Ketekibari residence yesterday. 
           Education minister Ripun Bora today said police have been instructed to take all possible steps to nab him. Bora said the government had also consulted an advocate general to prevent Deka from securing anticipatory bail. He said the President had expressed concern over the development saying it had brought disrepute to the institution. 
           “The development is unfortunate but we are sure the V-C will have his side of the story. It is a case of a communication gap or misunderstanding. It will be better not to jump to any conclusion so soon,” a university source said. 
           The AAU had filed an FIR against Deka on charges of opening a bank account in the university’s name without taking the requisite permission. Deka had opened the account with the Jorhat branch of United Bank of India in November 1999, when he was serving as the dean of the university. 
           He stepped down from the post only two years ago.  
           Sources said Deka had opened the account to deposit funds flowing in from different agencies for research and other activities. 
           The AAU came to know about the account last November and referred the matter to the governor. Raj Bhavan then asked the university authorities to file a complaint against Deka early this week, sources said. 

 		
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