Ex-Anna University Vice Chancellor gets jail for bribery

Radhakrishnan was found guilty of demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 40,000, during his tenure as VC, from a vendor who had supplied furniture to the university.

DVAC sleuths said that Radhakrishnan, who was the VC of newly formed Anna University, Coimbatore, in 2008-09, in 2008 demanded bribe to sanction a tender in favour of Senthil Kumar, a furniture vendor from Erode. Meanwhile another vendor, Mohammed Iqbal of Coimbatore, came forward to supply the furniture for a lesser price. The order for 750 dual desks and benches was split among the two. Mohammed Iqbal supplied 500 of them and Senthil supplied the remaining 250. DVAC sleuths said that the VC passed the cheque for the first vendor, but stopped the payment for Senthil as he had not given the bribe. The payment was released after he paid Rs 40,000 to the VC.

On getting information about the deal, the DVAC held a preliminary inquiry and found out that the allegation against Radhakrishnan was true. Subsequently charges were framed against the ex-VC and trial began at a special court. Radhakrishnan, who avoided appearing in the court, presented himself before the judge on August 25 after non bailable warrant was issued. Meanwhile, two bail pleas of Radhakrishnan, who was lodged in Coimbatore jail, were rejected by the HC.

When the case came up for hearing on Saturday, the Chief Judicial Magistrate and incharge of the special court, K R Mathurasekaran convicted Radhakrishnan and sentenced to 5-year RI, besides slapping a fine of Rs 1 lakh as he was found guilty under section 13(1)(d). 

He was also sentenced to one year RI and also levied a penalty of Rs 10,000 as he was found guilty under section 7 (public servant taking gratification other than legal remuneration in respect of an official act) of the same act. Both terms are to be served concurrently. The imprisonment will be extended by six months if he failed to pay the fine.