‘Probe corruption charges against officials of BASU’

PATNA: State

legislative council

acting chairperson Awadhesh Narain Singh on Thursday asked the government to get corruption charges against officials of Bihar Animal Sciences University (BASU) investigated and submit its reply to the Upper House on March 23. Singh said an FIR should be lodged against the university official who was charged with calling up his women colleagues at late night.

A call attention motion was raised in this regard by RJD MLC Sunil Kumar Singh and the acting chairperson issued these instructions while intervening during the government’s reply. Singh said the vice-chancellor of the university had allegedly allowed underground cabling work worth Rs 14 crore without the government’s approval and also purchased a machine worth Rs 86 lakh violating all financial norms.

He said several employees were hired in a wrong way and given housing benefits illegally. Singh said one B S Beniyal, who has sexual harassment charges against him, was given undue favour.

Animal husbandry and fisheries department minister Mukesh Sahni said the file related to the investigation will be sent to the governor in a week.

Another RJD MLC, Ram Chandra Purbey, raised the issue of road accidents in the state. Replying to Purbey, transport minister Sheela Kumari said the government was taking all necessary steps to curb road accidents. She said of total deaths on the national highways in the state, 56% were because of high speed. She, however, added there has been 7.1% drop in deaths due to road accidents in the state.