Mysore/Mysuru: In a big relief to former University of Mysore (UoM) and Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) Vice-Chancellor Prof. K.S. Rangappa, the Karnataka High Court on Wednesday last quashed the FIR registered against him in connection with the alleged irregularities that is said to have taken place when he was the KSOU VC.

Following a complaint accusing Prof. Rangappa and three others — Prof. M.G. Krishnan, also a former KSOU VC, retired  KSOU Registrars P.S. Naik and B.S. Vishwanath — of having indulged in corruption while they were serving in KSOU, the Jayalakshmipuram Police had registered an FIR (Crime No.53/2019) against them on Nov. 29, 2019. Police, who investigated the complaint, found no truth in it and subsequently the Police filed a ‘B Report.’

Questioning the ‘B Report’ filed by the Police, the complainants filed a protest petition in the High Court, which is pending. Meanwhile, the complainants registered another FIR on Nov. 29, 2019 by repeating the charges made in the first complaint filed on Aug. 19, 2016. Subsequently, Prof. Rangappa and three others again moved the High Court seeking quashing of the second FIR. The Court which heard Prof. Rangappa’s plea, quashed the FIR registered on Nov. 29, 2019.

Reacting to HC’s order quashing the FIR against him, Prof. Rangappa said that whatever he had done as the VC was in accordance with the decisions taken by the University Council. But a complaint was lodged against him for malafide reasons. The Court, taking note of the intention behind the filing of the FIR, has quashed it, he said welcoming the Court’s observation.