‘Maha govt to probe complaint against MU officials for splurging on costly cars’

File pic

Bringing up the matter of Mumbai University's (MU) high-ranking officials splurging on expensive cars at the senate meeting on Friday, Joint Director, Higher Education, Dr Sonali Rode said that the state government would conduct an enquiry in the case.

The issue came to light after an adjournment motion by two varsity senate members - Vaibhav Thorat and Shashikant Zore. The duo had earlier complained about Vice-Chancellor (VC) Dr Suhas Pednekar and Pro-Vice Chancellor (PVC) Dr Ravindra Kulkarni owning expensive SUVs, the price of which was beyond the expenditure cap for high-ranking varsity officials.

"A committee will be formed to conduct an enquiry into the complaint. As the issue was raised in the senate meeting, the enquiry report will be presented in the next meeting. Thereafter, further course of action will be decided," said Rode, adding that the enquiry would be conducted because the matter was raised at the senate meeting and not because the state government's higher and technical education department took cognisance of it.

However, Dr Pednekar said that extensive paper communication had taken place with the government in the matter. "The matter was resolved in the management council meeting," he added.

The complaint was raised earlier saying that officials of the rank of VC/Pro VC could spend a maximum of R12 lakh for vehicles, according to the Government Resolution, but the car that the VC uses is worth over Rs 60 lakh.