NU selects retired district judge to conduct probe against Dharmesh Dhawankar
Sanjay Deo is also going to assist Das in the documentation process. The University will also depute its officer to help both.
Nagpur: Nagpur University has appointed retired district judge Samir Das to conduct a departmental inquiry against Dharmesh Dhawankar, former head of the mass communication department.
Sanjay Deo is also going to assist Das in the documentation process. The University will also depute its officer to help both.
NU officials have also told TOI that it will take a long time to start the probe because the charge sheet was handed over to Dharmesh Dhawankar based on the findings of a one-man panel headed by retired judge Ajay Chafle.
“The University has fixed the charges mentioned by the Chafle Committee which were based on their interactions with the heads of various departments. The charge sheet was handed over to the accused. They were asked to respond within a specified time limit. The Das committee will start its probe after receiving Dharmesh Dhawankar’s reply.” NU officials said.
Officials have also alleged that NU Vice-Chancellor Subhash Chowdhary and Pro-VC Sanjay Dudhe are still very keen to save Dhawankar at any cost for reasons unknown. The two have reportedly decided not to suspend him at all till the probe against him is completed.
This step has been taken after a preliminary inquiry was done
In normal practice, the officer is suspended pending inquiry so that he makes absolutely no attempt to manipulate the proceedings or intimidate witnesses in any way. This also means that Dharmesh Dhawankar will continue to get paid without working.
He was sent on compulsory leave from the month of November after TOI and other media houses leveled very serious allegations of extortion.
Officials have also said that Dharmesh Dhawankar is aware of such a situation. As he was earlier suspended for four years by the Management Council of NU in 2006 for alleged financial misappropriation during a study tour of video programming students in Delhi. Also, this step has been taken after a preliminary inquiry was done by the then Finance and Accounts Officer (FAO) and in such a situation Dhawankar would have got half the salary.
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