Kerala CM rejects corruption claims at Digital University

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pina rayi Vijayan on Monday strongly denied allegations of corruption at the state-run Digital University, calling the claims made by Leader of Opposition V D Sath eesan "factually incorrect" and "misleading". Satheesan, in a letter sent to the Chief Minister on July 12, had called for a vigilance probe into what he described as financial fraud, misuse of power, and illegal project handling at the prestigious university.

The leader of Congress-led UDF also alleged that shell companies formed by faculty members were being used to divert university projects and funds. The Digital University operates under the state's IT department, with the Chief Minister himself serving as its Pro-Chancellor -- a fact Satheesan highlighted while calling for accountability.

He also claimed that the lack of auditing since the university's inception had opened the door to corruption. Responding in writing, Vijayan dismissed the allegations, stating that a statutory audit has been completed up to the 2023–24 financial year and that the university has formally requested the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) to carry out further audits.

The next steps are now pending with the CAG, he said. He also clarified that the company in question was formed within the legal framework of the university's policies and with approval from MeitY, the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. Refuting claims that advance payments were made illegally to the I-GEIC organisation, the CM called the accusation "baseless."

He questioned the logic behind labelling it a "fraudulent organ isation" and pointed out that the company's board includes respected names such as Madha van Nambiar, a former Civil Aviation Secretary to the Government of India, and others with links to Tata Steel and leading academic institutions.

Vijayan defended the university's practice of encouraging faculty-led innovation and entre preneurship, stating that its regulations allow faculty members to form non-profitentities for re search and development. He added that such project based activities are also a means of securing salaries and opera tional funds, as part of a modern, self-sustaining university model.

The CM concluded by suggesting that portraying these ap proved projects as corruption was a deliberate attempt to discredit the university and mislead the public. (PTI)