CBI finds AMU V-C guilty of financial impropriety

NEW DELHI: In its interim report, CBI has foundAligarh Muslim University vice-chancellor P K Abdul Azis guilty of financial impropriety. Though CBI said it would take a final view on its findings and on other allegations later, the 25-page interim report states that Azis committed financial impropriety and claimed travel allowance on first joining AMU as well as Home Town Concession when it was "very well in his knowledge that he was not entitled for the same". 

CBI also said it was irregular for the university to have paid personal income tax of Azis and registrar V K Abdul Jaleel from the university funds and their subsequent recovery in 11 interest free monthly installments. 

A section of AMU Court lead by former MP Wasim Ahmed, also a member of the university court, has been consistently demanding ouster of Azis on grounds of financial and administrative impropriety. 

Out of 26 allegations against Azis, CBI is looking into 17 leaving out others as they are administrative in nature. CBI found that Azis bought four air tickets (for himself, wife and two children) for Rs 81,654 from Kerala for travel on June 9, 2007 from Kochi to New Delhi. Separately, he bought three tickets (wife and two children) of another airlines worth Rs 93,053 from the same travel agency for travel on the same date ie June 9, 2007. 

CBI found that Azis submitted claim forms for both sets of tickets. While AMU cleared the claim of Rs 81,654, he was not found entitled for the other claim of Rs 93,053. CBI said that the other claim was cleared by AMU after Azis said he had not availed of home travelling concession in the year 2006-07. On this, CBI asked AMU if Azis was taken on deputation from his earlier employer Cochin University of Science and Technology. 

Records, CBI said, show that Azis had mentioned claim of transfer travel allowance when in fact it was in his knowledge that neither he was on transfer to AMU nor on deputation. "The appointment of Azis as AMU VC was a fresh appointment as such he was not entitled for TA on first appointment," CBI said. 

CBI also said that finance officer who pointed out Azis ineligibility was "threatened of dire consequences and drastic action". CBI also found that AMU was paying for his stay in a Delhi guest house even when Azis was taking leave travel concession. 

As for income tax payment for VC and registrar made by AMU, CBI found that income tax amounting to Rs 82,356 in case of Azis and Rs 44,315 in case of Jaleel was recovered in 11 installments. However, when it came to other employees, AMU paid income tax for them but recovered from their salary in single installment.