Six Anna University faculty paid up to Rs 40 lakh for employment

Apart from Rajaram, the DVAC has named Jayashree, assistant professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering; Dr Helen Kalavathi, assistant professor, Department of Chemical Engineering; Balamurugan, assistant professor, Department of Electronic Engineering; Dr V Jayalakshmi, professor, Department of Electronic and Communication Engineering; and Dr M Arivanandham, associate professor and Dr Mandhakini, assistant professor of Department of Materials Science (Nano Science) as accused in the FIR. 

All six, presently faculty members of Anna University, Chennai, bribed the selection committee to get appointments, alleged the FIR. 

In a damning indictment of the affairs at the university, the anti-corruption agency said all members of the selection committee, headed by the then V-C Rajaram, accepted hefty bribes to clear the recruitment of these six candidates during the period between May 2013 and May 2016. None of these six persons were eligible for the posts but were still appointed to the posts in violation of the norms laid down by the AICTE and UGC, it said, adding that the recruitment of ineligible candidates affected the chances of qualified candidates. All including the former V-C and the faculties have been booked under the provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act, along with criminal conspiracy and cheating among other charges. 

According to DVAC, Rajaram had complete control of the affairs of the university when he was serving as the vice chancellor and ex-officio chairman of the university syndicate. Besides, he had convened and presided over the meeting of the selection committee that had recommended the appointments to the posts of assistant and associate professors, and also professors. During that period, a total of 605 people had applied for various posts in the university.