Ahmedabad: An associate professor of Gujarat University, who is accused of siphoning off Rs 4.09 crore from the animation department, was arrested by the city crime branch on Saturday. Kamaljeet Lakhtaria was produced in court and remanded to police custody until Wednesday.
Ajay Das, 41, who works as a cartographer in the Centre for Professional Courses (animation), had filed a complaint against Lakhtaria on Friday. He told police that the associate professor embezzled funds after taking charge as coordinator of GU’s animation department. The complaint stated that to manage the finances for the courses, Lakhtaria, with the approval of the university registrar and vice-chancellor, opened seven accounts in Kotak Mahindra Bank’s Kalol branch.
According to the MoUs, 30% of the revenue generated from student fees was to be given to GU, while 70% was retained by the animation department. Ensuring timely payment of the university’s share was Lakhtaria’s responsibility. In 2023, financial irregularities were discovered, and an inquiry led by a retired district judge found that he did not remit Rs 4.09 crore owed to the university.