In a major development, Punjab Vigilance Bureau stopped Dr. Rajeev Sood at the airport from boarding a London-bound flight recently. Dr. Rajeev Sood is the Vice-Chancellor of Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS). Dr. Sood was stopped at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi. As per reports, the Vigilance Bureau had issued an alert to immigration authorities, instructing them to seek a written undertaking from Dr. Sood before permitting international travel.
Why was Baba Farid University's VC stopped at the airport?
As per information received, Dr. Sood was stopped from boarding the UK-bound flight as Vigilance is investigating alleged financial irregularities at Guru Gobind Singh Government Medical College and Hospital (GGSMCH), a constituent college under BFUHS.
What happened at the airport?
After being stopped at the airport, Dr. Sood was asked to give an undertaking in which he was supposed to declare that he was prepared to face any consequences resulting from the ongoing Vigilance inquiry. However, Dr Sood refused to provide such an undertaking, leading him to miss his scheduled flight to London, where he was to join his family.
Tribune quoted Dr. Sood, who strongly objected to the move, stating, “There is no FIR or personal inquiry against me. The vigilance is probing purchase-related matters at GGSMCH. My role as VC covers 117 institutions; it’s unjust to hold me accountable for every college's administrative lapses."
What is the case?
As per reports, Vigilance started an investigation after AAP leader Arsh Sachar from Faridkot raised an alarm over the alleged financial mismanagement in the GGSMCH purchases. While Sachar is facing strong opposition from Faridkot AAP MLA Gurdit Singh Sekhon for making such allegations aimed at tarnishing the image of the medical college, a senior member of the university’s Board of Management reportedly wrote to the VB seeking an official investigation following Sachar’s whistle-blowing.