Post News Network
Rayagada, Nov 16: The principal of a Padmapur-based private college in this district allegedly misappropriated the stipend money of students and kept the institution closed for over a month.
Students and their guardians Monday met district collector Jagannath Mohanty and apprised him of the irregularities.
According to a report, Sainath Residence, a private college, was set up in 2013 behind the tehsil office. Students of Chandrapur, Putasingh, Gunupur and other areas took admission into Plus II science stream by paying Rs 32,000 each per annum.
A few days back, principal Anil Kumar Parida took the students to the Padmapur branch of State Bank of India and collected photocopies of their passbooks. He promised the SC/ST students of more stipend if copies of the passbooks were sent to the Gunupur sub-collector’s office. Obliging the principal, the students put their signatures on a form given to them. Using the signed form, the principal managed to draw Rs 10,000 each which was deposited earlier, from the accounts of the students.
Meanwhile, the college has been closed since the Dussehra vacation and the students have not appeared for the term examination. With the Plus II second year examinations around the corner, 62 students along with their guardians met the district collector Monday.
The students would be admitted to other colleges and arrangements would be made so that they can appear for the final examination, the collector said, adding that action would be taken against the college authorities following a probe.
Later, the students apprised ASP Laxman Patel in the absence of the SP of their problems. The students who met the officials included – Runima Jena, Jharana Gamang, Mamali Kabatra, Tapaswini Kandagiri, Binati Pani, Kishori Shabar and several others.
