'He cheated students to pay medical bills'

Chairman of International Students House at Delhi University under scanner for committing fraud

Delhi University is in the news for all the wrong reasons these days. Here's another. The chairman of International Students House (ISH) of Delhi University (north campus) is under the scanner for allegedly committing financial fraud. It is reported that the accused chairman Aseem Bhatnagar needed money for the treatment of his niece who is suffering from cancer.


Indoor problem: International Guest House at Delhi University.
PIC/Arjun Panwar

Fraud discovered
He was removed from his post after Delhi University initiated an inquiry over the matter and found him guilty for misusing funds of the guest house. Aseem admitted his fraud in the probe after which DU official decided to approach the police. A written complaint was given to Delhi Police by the registrar of DU to take action against the accused. A senior police official, who did not wish to be named, confirmed the incident and said that the matter is being probed.

"Police called Aseem Bhatnagar to join the investigation on Monday in this connection but he did not respond. Earlier cops found that he had spent the money for paying the medical bills of his niece who is undergoing treatment at Medanta Hospital in Gurgaon," said a senior police official wishing anonymity.

Meanwhile, speaking to MiD DAY Aseem said that he was with his niece at the hospital in Gurgaon. "I don't want to talk to the media. I have answered my officials about the allegations," he said.u00a0Aseem a native of Bangalore was appointed chairman of ISH in 2005 and since then was working there.

Last year, university officials came to know about the financial embezzlement and initiated an inquiry to look into the matter. DU officials held Aseem guilty for laxity, lack of probity, lack of transparency in his functioning as chairman during his tenure. Aseem admitted in written that he had illegally retained an amount of Rs four lakh which should have been deposited in the university account by him.

Pay in instalments
Bhatnagar gave a cheque of Rs 76,758 to the official to deposit in the university account but that was dishonoured. Now the university is deducting the amount from his salary in instalments. "Mostly foreign students stay in ISH. Aseem collected rent from the students but did not deposit it in the university fund," said a senior police official. He added that Aseem Bhatnagar would be arrested after interrogation.