Dalit Sangharsha Samiti demands action against officials over fund misuse

Karnataka Dalit Sangharsha Samiti has urged the State government to book case against officials involved in the alleged misuse of SCSP-TSP funds, meant for the welfare of people belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, in Kuvempu University under the SC-ST Prevention of Atrocities Act and recover the funds from them.

DSS State convener M. Gurumurthy, in a press conference in Shivamogga on Friday, stated that following a request from then Vice-Chancellor of Kuvempu University, Prof. B.P. Veerabhadrappa in 2021, the State government granted ₹5 crore for building smart classes in 2021. Of that, ₹4.25 crore was released to the university to implement the project.

When allegations of misappropriation surfaced, preliminary enquiries were conducted. The Social Welfare Department subsequently filed a case against five officials, including former Vice-Chancellor Veerabhadrappa. The Governor has since appointed a retired judge to investigate the allegations and submit findings, Mr. Gurumurthy said.

Mr. Gurumurthy demanded the government take action against the erring officials and recover ₹4.25 crore from them.