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CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government on Monday suspended with immediate effect R Radhakrishnan, vice-chancellor of Anna University (Coimbatore), to

facilitate the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) to probe “grave allegations” of corruption against him.

An FIR filed by the DVAC in Coimbatore on August 6 said a confidential inquiry against Radhakrishnan had yielded “substantiated information” that he had taken bribes from chairpersons of private engineering colleges to grant affiliation to each course. Radhakrishnan has earned the dubious distinction of being the only vice-chancellor in Tamil Nadu to suffer such ignominy while in office.

He assumed office as the first vice-chancellor of the newly created university in February 2007 after having served as private secretary to three vice-chancellors of Anna University, Chennai. His term was to end in February next year. When a petition seeking the filing of a corruption case came up for hearing before the first bench of the Madras high court, comprising Chief Justice H L Gokhale and Justice D Murugesan, on Monday, advocate-general P S Raman submitted that the government had passed an order suspending Radhakrishnan.

Furnishing a copy of the government order dated August 31, Raman prayed to the bench that the case may be disposed of since a case has been registered against Radhakrishnan. The government order read: “In the circumstances of the case, in which grave allegations are under investigation by the director of vigilance and anti-corruption, it is necessary in the public interest to place R Radhakrishnan, vice-chancellor, Anna University, Coimbatore, under suspension with immediate effect.”

Senior advocate NR Chandran, representing the petitioner Sivapandi, however, wanted the court to keep the case pending until the DVAC filed a chargesheet.

Recording the contents of the GO and declining to keep the case pending, the judges said: “The state government acted effectively, looking into the grievances. Keeping the matter pending will amount to monitoring the investigation. Normally, this court would not do that. We have no reason to presume that the DVAC officials will not carry out their duties in accordance with law.” They also made it clear that they had not made any observations on the merits of the allegations against the vice-chancellor.

Senior advocate Vijay Narayan, appearing for Radhakrishnan, wanted the court to direct the DVAC to carry out investigation expeditiously.