Ahmedabad: A recent syndicate meeting of Gujarat University turned chaotic as members levelled serious allegations of corruption involving crores of rupees. A written explanation has been sought from Vice-Chancellor Neerja Gupta and Registrar Piyush Patel, with reports indicating that the matter has now reached the state government.

The row erupted after the university’s construction committee proposed an additional expenditure of ₹34 crore over the original tender amount. Syndicate members strongly opposed the move, blocked the proposal, and rejected the bill.

A consultant firm, Octrus, also came under scrutiny. Its owner, Samir Shukla, is frequently present on campus, raising concerns among members. Allegations were made that the firm inflated project costs by ₹34 crore after completion, despite initially quoting base rates.

Members further claimed that the ₹34 crore pertains only to two construction projects, while excess spending over the past three years could run into several crores. Questions were also raised over awarding work to the consultant firm without a tender, despite a similar proposal being rejected during the tenure of former Vice-Chancellor Himanshu Pandya in 2022.

The syndicate has also sought clarity on the direct appointments of external officials with salaries ranging from ₹1.5 lakh to ₹2.25 lakh, the use of fixed deposits, expenditure on gifts over the past two years, and spending through Section 8 companies. DeshGujarat