Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday dismissed allegations of corruption at the state-run Digital University, refuting claims by Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan as “factually incorrect” and “misleading.” Satheesan, in a July 12 letter, demanded a vigilance probe into alleged financial fraud, misuse of power, and diversion of funds through shell companies run by faculty members at the university, which operates under the state’s IT department with Vijayan as Pro-Chancellor.

Vijayan countered that statutory audits up to the 2023–24 financial year have been completed, with further audits requested from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), pending their approval. He defended the university’s policies, clarifying that the company in question, I-GEIC, was formed legally with approval from the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). Its board includes reputable figures like former Civil Aviation Secretary Madhavan Nambiar and representatives from Tata Steel and top academic institutions.

The CM rejected accusations of illegal advance payments to I-GEIC as “baseless,” emphasizing that faculty-led non-profit entities for research and development align with the university’s innovative, self-sustaining model. He argued that such initiatives secure operational funds and salaries, dismissing claims of corruption as a deliberate attempt to tarnish the university’s reputation. Satheesan’s allegations, raised during the Kerala Assembly session, also pointed to a lack of audits since the university’s inception in 2020, a claim Vijayan refuted with evidence of ongoing financial oversight.

Also Read: Kerala Gears Up for Spectacular Week-Long Onam Festival from September 3

Also Read: Rahul Gandhi Urges Kerala CM for Urgent School Safety Audit