FORMER PTU VC ARORA SENT TO JUDICIAL CUSTODY

JALANDHAR: A Kapurthala court sent former vice-chancellor of Inder Kumar Gujral Punjab Technical University (PTU) Rajneesh Arora, who was arrested by the vigilance bureau (VB) on Monday, to 14-day judicial custody on Friday.

Arora was in five-day police custody since Monday after being arrested from his Amritsar residence for alleged irregularities in appointments and financial bungling during his tenure as the V-C. The VB produced Arora in the court of additional chief judicial magistrate Manpreet Kaur on Friday afternoon and he was sent to judicial custody till January 25. The vigilance did not request the court for extension of police remand, sources said.

“Arora’s five-day custody was enough to quiz him. We are collecting evidence and investigating the case on the basis of the inquiry report submitted by former IAS officer SS Dhillon to the state government in July, indicting Arora for financial irregularities and bypassing norms to appoint consultants,” SSP vigilance DS Dhillon said.

He said the team is examining the five-year record seized from the PTU. The VB is also probing the favours given to a private company, NETiiT, during Arora’s tenure, the SSP said.

“We are finding connection between Arora and other accused to make the case strong before submitting a challan,” Dhillon said. Sources said during his remand, the VB quizzed Arora to find what kind of benefits he provided to the private firm, role of his friend Parveen Kumar, a consultant in the private firm, and whether he was under any pressure to hire employees.