Patiala: A whistleblower at Punjabi University in Patiala has urged university authorities to initiate a thorough investigation into a Rs 14-crore fake salary bills scam first detected in May 2021, either by the vigilance bureau (VB) or an independent body. He alleged that vested interests were maligning his image to divert attention from the fraud.The scam involved the generation of 814 fake salary bills since 2012, resulting in the misappropriation of nearly Rs 14 crore. Irregularities were uncovered by the university's internal audit cell in May 2021.An internal inquiry led by Prof Varinder Kaushik, now retired, and an external probe headed by retired Justice Jora Singh confirmed the fraud. Several employees implicated in the embezzlement were dismissed or suspended. On Aug 1, 2021, an FIR was registered at Urban Estate police station in Patiala after the then vice-chancellor, Arvind, flagged the alleged misappropriation of funds through forged salary bills.Parmood Aggarwal, an associate professor who holds holds additional charge of the finance department, detected the fake salary bills and reported the matter to the then vice-chancellor. In a statement submitted to the registrar on June 7, 2021, Aggarwal detailed his role in exposing the fraud, identifying himself as the key whistleblower.Aggarwal has now written to the university authorities, citing the scam's prolonged duration, the alleged involvement of multiple functionaries over several years, and what he...
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