A whistleblower at Punjabi University in Patiala has called upon the institution's authorities to launch a comprehensive and impartial investigation into a massive fake salary bills scandal, amounting to nearly Rs 14 crore, which was first unearthed in 2021. The individual, who identifies as the key informant, has expressed concerns over attempts to tarnish his reputation, which he believes is a tactic to shift focus away from the serious financial fraud.
The Anatomy of a Multi-Crore Scam
The elaborate scam, which ran for nearly a decade, involved the generation of 814 fraudulent salary bills since 2012. This systematic manipulation led to the misappropriation of an estimated Rs 14 crore from the university's coffers. The irregularities were initially brought to light by the university's own internal audit cell in May 2021.
Following the internal discovery, the university initiated probes to confirm the fraud. An internal inquiry was led by Prof Varinder Kaushik, who has since retired. Concurrently, an external investigation was headed by retired Justice Jora Singh. Both inquiries substantiated the existence of the scam, leading to disciplinary action against several employees implicated in the embezzlement; some were dismissed, while others were suspended.
Whistleblower Seeks Justice and Protection
Parmood Aggarwal, an associate professor who also held the additional charge of the finance department, has come forward as the primary whistleblower. He was the one who detected the fake salary bills and reported the matter to the then vice-chancellor, Arvind. In a detailed statement submitted to the registrar on June 7, 2021, Aggarwal outlined his crucial role in exposing the fraud.
In a recent communication to the university authorities, Aggarwal has highlighted the prolonged nature of the scam, suggesting the alleged involvement of multiple officials over several years. He has raised alarms about what he terms "false and motivated allegations" being levelled against him, which he claims are designed to derail the process of fixing accountability. Emphasising the need for transparency, he has sought protection for whistleblowers and urged for an independent probe by either the vigilance bureau or an external body to ensure responsibility is fixed at all administrative levels.
Ongoing Investigations and Institutional Response
The case has already attracted the attention of state and central agencies. An FIR was registered at the Urban Estate police station in Patiala on August 1, 2021, after the then vice-chancellor formally flagged the fund misappropriation. In 2022, the Vigilance Bureau summoned seven former university officials in connection with various scams reported between 2007 and 2017, including this salary fraud. Furthermore, the Enforcement Directorate sought details regarding this scam in 2021-22, indicating the potential scale of the financial misconduct.
Concerns over financial and administrative irregularities at Punjabi University were highlighted again in 2024 with the arrest of a sacked security supervisor in a separate fake attendance case.
When contacted, the current vice-chancellor, Jagdeep Singh, stated that action has been taken in phases. "The action has already been taken in two phases whereas in the third phase we have taken action which will be disclosed after the election code of conduct comes to an end. Already, two employees were dismissed in the case and eight suspended. Both internal and external inquiries have been conducted into this scam," he said.
Despite these actions, the whistleblower insists that only a fully independent investigation can "safeguard the financial integrity and credibility of Punjabi University" and restore public trust in the institution.
