After CBI grilling, VC flies to Kolkata; shock, calm at NBU

CBI also grilled at the administrative office after a team of 11 members arrived at the university 

SNS, SILIGURI, 25 AUGUST 2022 : The Vice-Chancellor of the North Bengal University (NBU), Dr Subiresh Bhattacharya, who was quizzed by officials of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for around 10 hours in Siliguri yesterday, flew to Kolkata today.

Sources have said that the CBI had grilled the VC in connection with the alleged corruption in recruitments under the School Service Commission (SSC) when he was its chairman.

At the Bagdogra Airport today Dr Bhattacharya said he was going to Kolkata, but refused to talk to the media on the CBI questioning him at his official residence on the NBU premises. The VC left his residence at 9 am with his wife.

The CBI grilled Dr Bhttacharya at his official residence and also at the administrative office after a team of 11 members arrived at the university yesterday morning. The unprecedented development at the prestigious university has left university teachers and employees in an awkward situation.

Dr Bhattacharya ha s been the VC of the university since February 2018.

Sources today said the investigators had wanted to know front him the procedures followed during the recruitments. It is believed that he went to Kolkata today as per the directives of the CBI.

It is learnt front university sources that Dr Bhattacharya had not given charge officially to anyone to act in his absence.

An eerie calm prevailed at the university today, while officials at the different departments are maintaining silence and they did not wish to talk to the media officially. "I am still in shock. There were, however, indications of a storm for the past few months. Usually, the VC assigns someone to carry out the day-to-day activities if he is on leave," said a teacher at the university.

An inquiry report of the high court-appointed committee headed by Justice Ranjit Kumar Bag a former judge of the court, has named Dr Bhattacharya, who had been the chairman of the SSC (2014-2018) on alleged corruption in the recruitment of staff for government-aided schools. It is said that 381 candidates were appointed in Group C posts in government-aided schools after the expiration of the panel of shortlisted candidates on 18 May 2019. The committee has also recommended FIRs against top officials, and recommended departmental proceedings against former SSC officials on charges of violating &SC recruitment rules.

The Calcutta High Court has ordered CBI investigations into the recruitment by the SSC.