Madras High Court issues stay on investigation against Periyar University Vice-Chancellor

The Madras High Court issued a stay order on the investigation against R Jagannathan, the Vice Chancellor (VC) of Periyar University in Salem. The VC faced charges of initiating a private firm within the university premises and misappropriating public funds, leading to his arrest on December 26. The stay order was passed in response to a petition filed by Jagannathan, seeking the dismissal of the case against him.

Alleged ulterior motive in prosecution:

Justice Anand Venkatesh, in passing the order, expressed concern over the criminal prosecution, stating that it appeared to be motivated by ulterior motives. The court emphasized its duty to examine the circumstances surrounding the case, beyond the FIR's averments.

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The case originated from a complaint filed by I Elangovan, claiming to be the president of the Association of University Teachers, alleging that the VC and others registered a company, Periyar University Technology Entrepreneurship and Research Foundation (PUTER Foundation), without necessary permissions. The company's directors included the VC and the university's registrar, and its official address was indicated to be inside the university.

Legal complaint and arrest:

Based on the complaint, an FIR was registered against the VC and others on December 26, 2023, under various sections of the IPC. The VC was arrested but later granted bail. Elangovan also accused the VC of using caste-based verbal abuse and criminal intimidation when questioned about the company.

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The VC argued that PUTER was established based on a government order from 2013, which sanctioned the setting up of incubation and technology transfer centers. The court noted that there was no evidence of funds being misappropriated, and even if allegations were true, they might, at most, indicate a dereliction of duty.

The court scheduled the next hearing for four weeks later, allowing time for a more thorough examination of the case.