ACC files case against ex-VC, Registrar of PSTU for irregularities

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has decided to file a case against former Vice-Chancellor (VC) of Patuakhali Science and Technology University (PSTU) Swadesh Chandra Samanta and former Registrar Santosh Kumar Basu for causing a financial loss of Taka 8.1 million to the state through recruitment irregularities at the university.

Md. Aktarul Islam, Deputy Director of the ACC Public Relations Division, confirmed this information on Sunday, reports BSS.

According to the ACC records, the accused have recruited personnel for positions not approved by the University Grants Commission (UGC). The recruitment process reportedly included the hiring of the former VC's son, among others.

The records stated that the former VC Swadesh Chandra Samanta and the former Registrar Santosh Kumar Basu allegedly acted in collusion, abusing their official authority to carry out these irregularities.

Furthermore, it is alleged that they illicitly influenced the members of the selection board to facilitate the recruitment of personnel for positions that were neither approved by the UGC nor included in the official recruitment notice.

 Subsequently, a resolution by the Regents Board was drafted and approved to facilitate the appointment of others, under the pretext of the VC's directives.

According to the ACC records, a total of 80,75,131 Taka was paid as salaries and allowances for these appointments, an amount classified as a financial loss to the government.

In connection with this incident, the ACC has decided to file a case against Swadesh Chandra Samanta and Santosh Kumar Basu under section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947, as well as sections 409 and 109 of the Penal Code.