R. Santhanam, the retired IAS officer appointed by the Governor to enquire into the audiotape scandal involving a woman faculty member of the Devanga Arts College in Aruppukottai for allegedly ‘luring’ girl students at the behest of Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU) officials, began his probe at the Circuit House here on Thursday.
Following concerns raised by a section of activists and MKU staff associations about the absence of women representatives in the committee, Mr. Santhanam said he had co-opted two women professors to assist him in the enquiry. T. Kamali, Dean, Research, Mother Teresa Women’s University, and S. Thiyageshwari, Professor and Head, Department of Soils and Environment, Agricultural College and Research Institute, will assist Mr. Santhanam in enquiring the girl students and faculty members when he visits the college.
Mr. Santhanam said that he wanted to keep the MKU administration out of the enquiry process. The audiotape, in which the tainted faculty member P. Nirmala Devi is heard persuading four students to give sexual favours in return for academic and financial benefits, had indicated the involvement of MKU officials.
On whether he would enquire into allegations of corruption in MKU as some staff associations have said that the present controversy cannot be seen in isolation from the alleged corruption in MKU, he said that his term of reference was to go into the background and details that led to this ‘immoral conversation’.
“So, I will have to dig into the background also,” he said.
Mr. Santhanam said he was also planning to enquire Ms. Nirmala Devi, who is now lodged in the Madurai Central Prison, either on Saturday or next week.
Open to public
Mr. Santhanam said he would be available at the Madurai Circuit House on Saturday, Wednesday and Thursday (April 21, 25 and 26) from 10 a.m. to 1.30 p.m., and anyone who wanted to provide information to the commission regarding the case could do so in writing. “Those who are in possession of evidence related to the case can also present it,” he added.
Retired IAS officer R.Santhanam addressing the media in Madurai.
On Saturday and Wednesday afternoons, he said he will be at the guest house in MKU to facilitate the representatives of staff associations in the university to meet him. “Students or other staff members, who want to provide information in writing, can also approach me,” he said.
Earlier, on reaching the Circuit House, Mr. Santhanam told the media that his focus on day one would be to finalise the modalities of the enquiry.
On being summoned, the MKU Vice-Chancellor P.P. Chellathurai and Registrar V. Chinniah met Mr. Santhanam for nearly three hours. The meeting was part of the enquiry process, Mr. Santhanam said.
University sources said that some documents related to alleged misuse of the University Grants Commission-sanctioned funds by the Devanga Arts College, irregularities in some appointments made by the college a few years ago and the refresher course attended last month by Ms. Nirmala Devi at MKU were presented to Mr. Santhanam.
