RTIs nailed corrupt principal

Rs 58-lakh scam exposed in Delhi University college; headmaster in the dock

Rs 58-lakh scam exposed in Delhi University college; headmaster in the dock

Seven years of persistent efforts, multiple Right to Information (RTI) pleas and several threatening calls later, Prof PK Sharma is a content man now.

The Associate Professor in the Motilal Nehru College of Delhi University has been waging a war against rampant corruption in the college allegedly at the behest of Principal Suresh C Sharma.

Prof Sharma got the hint of embezzlement in college funds in 2003 and on persistent inquiries he got to know that several lakh of rupees were being skimmed out of the student's society fund (Rs 5,49,437), development fund (Rs 8,44,971), false LTC claims (Rs.1,99,768) and granting of civil contracts (Rs. 23,84,257).

Clean chit
He approached the anti-corruption cell of the varsity but even that did not bear any result. He also approached the governing body of the college and the office of the Vice-Chancellor but the Principal was given a clean chit by the governing body.

Then Prof Sharma took recourse in Right to Information pleas. "I filed a number of RTIs and got figures to back my claims. When the anti-corruption officials failed to take any action, I approached the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) with all the figures," he said. The Central Information Commissioner in an order dated May 12, 2008 went on record to say that efforts were being made to shield the erring official, Prof Sharma said.

Threat calls
"When Suresh C Sharma realised that I will expose him he started threatening me. He gave me life threats over telephone. I lodged a complaint against him at a police station in Gurgaon on March 28, 2008," the associate Professor in economics said.u00a0

The Principal has already been indicted under section 192/ 506 of the IPC by a Gurgaon Criminal Court for "having advanced threat to the life of the complainant coercing him to withdraw complaint and further having fabricated false evidence", Prof Sharma claimed.

He also moved court against the 14 charges of corruption against Suresh C Sharma in a Delhi court. Metropolitan Magistrate SPS Laler admitted the plea on December 23, 2009, saying evidence presented by Prof Sharma "is satisfactory". The court issued summons against the Principal on January 23, 2010.
The next date of hearing is Febuary 27, 2010.

The Other Side

MiD DAY tried to get in touch with Suresh C Sharma, Principal, Motilal Nehru college (Evening) but he could not be reached. One of the office staff, who received the call, refuted all corruption charges against Sharma but refused to disclose his identity.