Pataliputra Univ registrar-acting V-C face-off reaches Raj Bhawan

Registrar of Pataliputra University NK Jha has lodged a police complaint against acting vice-chancellor of the varsity Sharad Yadav, who is holding additional charge apart from his original appointment at Aryabhatt Knowledge University (AKU), alleging intimidation by some of the university officials who landed at his house around midnight of March 29-30 to get files signed.

- Arun Kumar [e-mail]

PATNA:

Jha, a Patna University professor, has lodged the complaint with Bahdurpur police station and also apprised the Raj Bhawan, education minister and the additional chief secretary (education) about the situation, which he said could have turned dangerous for him had he been present in his house.

"Four persons - two security guards and two officials - arrived at my house in the escort vehicle of the V-C at 11.40 pm and seemed to be in inebriated condition, as the CCTV footage shows. They wanted me to sign a file. Had I been in the house, they could have done anything, as they seemed to be in foul mood," he said in his complaint.

The station house officer (SHO) of Bahadur police station confirmed having received a written complaint and corroborated the incident after going through the CCTV footage.

"We will interrogate all the four, who went so late at night at the residence of an officer. Even if there was some urgent work, normally one would call to know the availability before going at anyone's house at odd hours," said a police officer.

The V-C, on the other hand, told media persons that the officials had gone to the registrar's residence for getting the proceedings of the Syndicate meeting, held on March 29, signed that day. "The registrar had left after the meeting and the proceeding was to be prepared the same day. The registrar's phone was switched off and so the officials went there," he added. He did not respond when HT tried to contact him on phone.