The University of Kerala will register a police complaint in the case of alleged misappropriation of Rs.37.63 lakh from its office automation project fund in 2010-11.
A three-member subcommittee of the university Syndicate, which probed the alleged misappropriation, on the basis of preliminary report submitted by the University Finance Officer (FO), concluded on Friday that both former Registrar K.A. Hashim and section officer N. Ashokan were guilty of the said misappropriation. On February 12, the Syndicate had decided to place Mr. Ashokan under suspension.
Subcommittee member B.S. Jyothikumar said the Syndicate, on Friday, decided to report the incident to the government and to authorise the FO to carry out an audit of all financial transactions done by K.A. Hashim when he was Registrar. The varsity’s case was that a sum of Rs.37.63 lakh was withdrawn from the PD account, 67004403758, with the State Bank of Travancore, of the University Registrar using cash cheques in 2010 and 2011 and were unsupported by any documentary details including beneficiary details, counter-foils or university sanctions.
10 withdrawalsThe FO had pointed out that there were ten such withdrawals between October 4, 2010 and February 24, 2011. Such withdrawals continued even after Mr. Hashim ceased to be the Registrar on March 14, 2011, the FO’s report said. The FO had recommended a probe by an external agency. It was understood that UDF Syndicate members may privately press for a Crime Branch inquiry into the incident.
