Chennai: Posters defame Tanuvas vice chancellor with corruption charge

Chennai: Security and staff attached to Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (Tanuvas) are now on a different task. They are removing defamatory posters put up by students association, which alleges large-scale corruption in the university and demands action. On one side the university staff peel off the posters, but on the other side, mischief-mongers are putting up the posters in different parts of Chennai. The posters have come up in Vepery, Madhavaram, Egmore and Chepauk where various government offices and Tanuvas offices are located. 

The posters allege that vice-chancellor S. Thilagar and estate officer S. Kuppusamy are involved in corrupt practices and they have urged the state to intervene and investigate the matter. The anonymous posters also warned that the university would be besieged if there were no investigations.

 As a ripple effect, the staff associated with the office of vice-chancellor were seen interacting with students and staff at the Madras Veterinary College hostel seeking information about the posters. The faculty members also warned the veterinary students that they would face action if found involved in such defamatory acts.

It may be noted that the state and the Tanuvas were on a collision course with the government restricting the recruitment of staff in Tanuvas. The state intervention through the department secretary came in the wake of widespread allegations that large-scale corruption is involved in the ‘hurried’ recruitment process that was completed in the past two months.

Vice Chancellor Thilagar is due to retire in the mid of December as his three-year term ends. It is also rumoured that there are vested interests operating behind the defamatory acts to thwart the attempt by incumbent VC eyeing for another fresh term and also install his favourite faculties at senior levels. Besides Thilagar, Dr S. Geethalakshmi, vice-chancellor of Dr MGR Medical University was also under a cloud and her office and residence were raided by the income tax department early April and an investigation is still pending.