Bengaluru: “The Rs. 500 crore irregularities in the Universities in Karnataka, including Rs. 300 crore in Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), is one hundred percent true. I have talked about it and will not withdraw from this statement. However, the Higher Education Department does not have the power to investigate it,” said Higher Education Minister Basavaraja Raya Reddy, expressing his helplessness.

He was talking to media persons at Vidhana Soudha here yesterday and said that he is still committed to what he had disclosed some time back. I had got the reports from all the 12 Universities in the State regarding the financial, educational and administrative issues since 2005 and that there were irregularities in all the Universities. “However, I know that these reports are gathering dust. The reason is, the law has not vested in me, the power to investigate but the Governor can take action against it if he wants, is all he said.

Already a one-man committee has given the report to the Governor regarding the Rs. 300 crore irregularities in VTU. Based on this report, Prof. Maheshwarappa, who was the VC, has been suspended. However, no action has been taken against him, he said. In Muddenahalli, without the permission from the State Government or the Cabinet approval, Rs. 250 crore worth buildings have been constructed. But, there are only 50 students studying there. Prima facie, it is found that a huge irregularity has occurred in the construction of buildings. Added to this, nearly Rs. 4.50 crore has been spent for the repair of the Vice-Chancellor’s quarters. Nearly Rs. 20 crore worth computers are lying unused. Many such irregularities have been found, explained Reddy.