Allegations of Wi-Fi being installed on non-existent floors and buildings are being probed at the Gour Banga University (GBU) in Malda.
A source said that an order to install Wi-Fi or wireless technology for internet access, within the GBU premises at a total cost of ₹1.18 crore had been issued in November 2019.
“Wi-Fi was ordered to be installed on non-existent floors and buildings. Although two G+3 hostels were under construction at that point of time, Wi-Fi was ordered for installation on the fourth floor too,” alleged a senior official of the university.
There are allegations that Wi-Fi had been ordered for a non-existent hostel too.
Following complaints to the state higher education council of alleged misappropriation of funds and other irregularities related to Wi-Fi a four-member inquiry committee was formed under Debkumar Mukherjee, the vice-chancellor of the Panchanan Barma University in Cooch Behar.
After a detailed probe, the committee gave a report to the state higher education council citing “large-scale corruption took place in Wi-Fi installation of the university”.
Biplab Giri, a teacher of the physiology department was the registrar on additional charge when the alleged corruption took place and had issued the order for installing Wi-Fi within the campus.
Binay Krishna Halder was the audit officer of GBU and convener of the tender and purchase committee then, sources said. Both are still in service.
Although the committee headed by Mukherjee submitted a report, the executive committee of the university formed a five-member special committee in August 2021.
The new committee is headed by the registrar on the additional charge, Apurba Chakraborty. The committee summoned Giri and Halder for a hearing on Saturday.