Barkatullah University mystery: How did files go missing?

BHOPAL: As many as 16 classified files from Barkatullah University (BU) containing information on construction work on the campus and details of certain inquiries have disappeared. The university has set up a three-member committee to probe the issue. Officials said that an FIR would be lodged if the files remain untraceable.

Sources said the issue came to light after delay in payments against several infrastructure development works. A senior official without quoting his name said, “All files belong to the tenure of former vice-chancellor Prof MD Tiwari. The files were sent from registrar office to V-C office and since then they have gone missing.” Sources said that probe committee in its first meet decided to contact university teaching departments. “The files could be in possession of different departments. At this stage, nothing can be said about the issue,” said an official.
It is believed that the files went missing after Prof Tiwari’s tenure came to an end. “Files cannot go missing, unless someone deliberately keeps them in his possession. It is stated that the 16 files have been missing ever since Tiwari was removed before he could complete his tenure,” said an official.
Incidentally, the government had imposed section 52 on BU on August 11, 2017 and removed Prof Tiwari. Thereafter, Raj Bhawan had appointed Pramod Verma as the VC. Probe committee is likely to submit its report by the end of month. “Committee comprises teaching faculty and its members have limited powers. If files remain untraceable then the university will have no option but to approach the police,” said officials. It is also suspected that the files were left missing deliberately. “Had the files been kept unintentionally, someone would have come forward to disclose the issue. However, nobody has turned up ever since the probe panel was formed. It clearly shows that there is something wrong,” said a senior university official.
Sources said there were a couple of files which contained details about payments already made during Prof Tiwari’s tenure. “It’s not about the payments which are yet to be made, but those which have already been made. The information about inquiry against some employees is also a major issue,” said the official.