Fazilka college complains to VC against Senator

Bhartesh Singh Thakur 

Tribune News Service 

Chandigarh, September 18 

National Degree College, Fazilka, has filed a complaint to Prof Rak Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, Panjab University, against Senator Iqbal Singh Sandhu for taking Rs 9 lakh for helping the college retain the status of a co-educational institute. 

Dr Gurpeet Singh, chairman of the management committee and governing body, and Gulshan Kumar, secretary of the management committee, had filed a complaint on September 15. 

It was circulated among the selected Senators on Tuesday. From 2016-17 session, the college got the status of a co-educational institute and Sandhu, being a member of the inspection committee, allegedly sought money for the favour. 

“Iqbal Singh Sandhu had threatened us that if the money was not paid he would not allow the college to function...But we didn’t bother as we had no deficiency,” said the complaint. 

Sandhu was the chairperson of the inspection committee for affiliation in 2017-18.

According to the complaint, he again asked for money, but when the college did not pay, he did not allow admission to boys for 2017-18. He allegedly got passed directions against the college. 

It is alleged that he contacted a member of the management committee of the college, Davinder Singh, and asked for Rs 12 lakh. The deal was struck in Rs 9 lakh. 

As per the complaint, Davinder Singh paid Rs 5 lakh on August 2, 2017,  Rs 1 lakh on August 22, 2017,  

Rs 1 lakh on October 26, 2017, and  Rs 2 lakh on October 29, 2017. 

It is alleged that despite taking the bribe, Sandhu did not help for allowing admission to boys in the college. When they asked him to pay back, he allegedly threatened that the college would face consequences. 

The college has asked for dismissal of Sandhu from the Senate membership and as the principal of the PU’s constituent college in Muktsar and also asked for recovery of their money. 

“We have some recorded conversations to prove the allegations of bribe,” said Gulshan Kumar. 

“National Degree College is a non-attending one. On my report, the PU had acted against the college. Now, they think that by attacking a senior Senator they could gain something. My only stand is that they must file an affidavit with their complaint and the matter should be probed,” said Sandhu.