Wasn’t aware of serious complaints against Motihari V-C candidate, says parent university

Motihari central university V-C Sanjeev Sharma taught at UP’s Chaudhary Charan Singh University, and is accused of fudging documents and of sexual harassment.

Mahatma Gandhi Central University (MGCU) vice-chancellor Sanjeev Sharma (in red blazer) | Photo: @MGCUBihar | Twitter

New Delhi: Sanjeev Sharma, vice-chancellor of the Mahatma Gandhi Central University in Bihar’s Motihari, is already under the scanner for allegedly fudging documents for promotion and committing sexual harassment before his appointment to the post. And now he could be in more trouble, ThePrint has learnt.

Before his appointment as V-C in April 2019, Sharma used to teach at the Chaudhary Charan Singh University in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. In 2006, his appointment as professor was opposed by the University Grants Commission, which said he hadn’t spent adequate time (eight years) at the designation of reader.

Then, in 2008, a colleague filed a sexual harassment complaint against him with the state governor. And yet, the CCSU gave him a vigilance clearance certificate prior to his appointment as V-C in 2019.

A complaint mentioning these details was filed with the Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) on 28 January 2020, alleging that the vigilance clearance granted to Sharma was “manipulated”.

And now, the CCSU has also written to the ministry, agreeing that there is a problem with the vigilance clearance, and that the institution was not aware of the accusations against Sharma at the time it cleared his name.

Registrar writes letter, ministry takes serious note

A letter from the CCSU registrar sent to the ministry on 4 March, a copy of which has been accessed by ThePrint, reads: “At the time vigilance clearance was given by the university for Prof. Sanjeev Sharma, the university was not aware that his name is in an FIR. After a complaint was filed against him, the details were made available by the complainant.”

The letter also accepts that a 2006 letter from the UGC stated that Sharma was not eligible to be a professor, according to the rules.

The university has also stated that a complaint of sexual harassment against Sharma was received at the Governor’s office, but adds that it has no information about any action in the case.

The HRD ministry has taken serious note of the CCSU’s letter. Sources in the Motihari university told ThePrint that Sharma was summoned to the ministry for an explanation, and might be sent on leave soon.

An HRD ministry official who is handling the investigation but did not wish to be identified confirmed that it has received the CCSU’s letter, and is looking into the matter with seriousness.

“We are seriously looking into the case and relevant action will be taken, following the due process,” the official said.

Sharma, meanwhile, has denied all allegations against him. In a letter addressed to the ministry, which has been accessed by ThePrint, he has said that the allegations against him are “baseless”.