Ex-GU VC Faces Fresh Row Over Rs 28 Lakh Expenses on Foreign Travel, Business-Class Flights

Ahmedabad: Former Gujarat University (GU) Vice-Chancellor Dr Neerja Gupta is facing fresh allegations of financial irregularities, with records reportedly showing that more than Rs 28 lakh was spent on business-class air travel, foreign trips and luxury hotel stays during her tenure in 2025-26.

The allegations concern the alleged misuse of university funds, violation of financial rules and the routing of travel expenses through different university departments and programmes. The expenditure reportedly included domestic travel to Delhi, Indore and Bengaluru, as well as an overseas trip to Japan.

According to the details of the expenditure, Gupta travelled by business class instead of economy class, with bills exceeding Rs 28 lakh reportedly cleared during the period. In June 2025, a business-class ticket to Delhi costing Rs 23,477 was charged to the university’s Study Abroad Programme (SAP) account.

Other expenses included Rs 28,329 for a business-class ticket to Delhi on April 13, 2026, Rs 10,513 for a stay at Hotel Ambassador, Rs 8,209 for an Indore flight and Rs 16,924 for accommodation at Radisson Blu.

The allegations also extend to travel arrangements made for individuals outside the university. Dhaval Shah, CEO of Jamnadas Publication House, was reportedly sent on trips to Bangkok and Japan, with expenses of around Rs 5.5 lakh paid from the Study Abroad Programme’s bank account.

The Japan trip allegedly involved an expenditure of approximately Rs 14 lakh. This included US$10,000 (around Rs 9.67 lakh) provided through GUPTER, air tickets worth Rs 3,90,472, Delhi-Ahmedabad tickets costing Rs 24,997 and visa fees of Rs 7,770.

Similarly, during a three-day visit to Bengaluru in March, a premium room at the Taj Hotel and an Innova car hired for Rs 31,000 reportedly took the total expenditure to Rs 1.07 lakh. The amount was also charged to the Study Abroad account.

Consultant company owner allegedly received travel benefits

The allegations also name Samir Shukla, owner of Octers, a consultancy firm that has reportedly secured various university contracts. The company was allegedly blacklisted earlier over irregularities.

Despite this, the university’s SAP account reportedly cleared more than Rs 10,000 towards Shukla’s Delhi travel, including Rs 5,842 for one ticket and Rs 4,664 for another. There are also allegations that Rs 10 lakh was transferred to him from a government grant.

Travel expenses allegedly routed through different departments

Questions have also been raised over the manner in which the travel bills were processed. Under the prescribed procedure, details of the Vice-Chancellor’s travel expenses are expected to be maintained by the university’s accounts department. However, the bills in question were allegedly booked through departments and accounts associated with SAP, IIS and IDIMS, raising concerns over financial transparency.

The Japan trip has emerged as another point of contention. The state Education Department had reportedly issued clear instructions that neither the government nor the university should bear the expenses of the visit.

Despite this, an amount of Rs 4.80 lakh was allegedly paid to Flora Holidays through an institution under the Vice-Chancellor’s control. The total expenditure on the trip is alleged to have reached around Rs 10 lakh without the required approval.

The allegations have raised questions about the use of university funds, compliance with financial procedures and accountability in the approval and processing of expenditure during Gupta’s tenure. DeshGujarat