MacBooks, Missing Files and Million-Rupee Tenders: LoP Seeks CBI Deep Dive Into Tezpur University

Assam Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia has sought a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into what he described as a series of grave financial and administrative irregularities at Tezpur University. 

In a letter submitted to the CBI’s Anti-Corruption Branch in Guwahati on Monday, Saikia, along with MLAs Nurul Huda and Sibamoni Bora, urged the agency to launch an independent and time-bound inquiry to protect public funds and restore transparency at the Central university.

Saikia stated that his appeal does not assign guilt to any individual but follows months of campus unrest, multiple written complaints from students and faculty bodies, and troubling disclosures that have surfaced through official RTI replies. According to him, the problems at Tezpur University have accumulated over the past several years and merit scrutiny by an external, impartial authority.

In the letter, Saikia pointed to allegations that the university’s procurement and tendering processes were repeatedly manipulated, resulting in inflated costs, questionable vendor selection, and violation of standard financial norms. Complaints raised by campus groups include claims of irregularities in the award of security services, diesel purchases made without valid contracts, scrap disposal carried out without public tender, and a ₹4.5-crore book and e-resource procurement process that allegedly favoured a small set of Delhi-based vendors while excluding local suppliers and Assamese titles for two consecutive years.

Several high-value projects — including consolidated equipment purchases, a semiconductor analyzer, and a High Mast Flag Pole inaugurated just days after the bid opening — have also raised doubts about whether contracts were pre-decided or awarded without following rules. Saikia said the procurement-related complaints extend further into HEFA-funded works, where furniture supplies worth ₹14 crore, water purifiers reportedly purchased at twice the market rate, and nine major building projects amounting to ₹153.71 crore have all drawn scrutiny. These construction works, executed by APWD, were allegedly carried out without appointing a mandatory Project Management Consultant, despite being an EPC-mode project.

Saikia also flagged what he called a “deeply troubling” audit observation from March 2024 regarding the purchase of 37 MacBooks worth over ₹83 lakh. The audit report, according to him, found that the university cancelled a GeM tender and then procured the laptops overnight using a Proprietary Article Certificate, even though MacBooks were readily available locally. There are also questions about where the laptops were actually installed, with reports suggesting that some devices may have been distributed as personal gifts.

Beyond procurement, Saikia highlighted concerns about irregular appointments, questionable extensions of service, inconsistencies in house allotments, and the withholding of retirement benefits of a former Executive Engineer even after the completion of an inquiry. He said the administration’s decision to replace qualified guest faculty with low-paid research scholars and the deteriorating condition of hostels reflect wider administrative mismanagement.

One of the most alarming revelations, he said, came from an RTI response dated November 19, 2025, which stated that key documents related to the appointment and qualifications of the university’s Vice-Chancellor — including his CV, PhD certificate, and selection committee proceedings — were “not available in the office.” Saikia noted that former Vice-Chancellor Prof. Shambhu Nath Singh had earlier been removed from his position at Patna University following a Patna High Court order. On December 6, the Ministry of Education assured that Prof. Singh would no longer administer Tezpur University and that a formal enquiry would begin, signalling the seriousness of the situation.

Saikia said the allegations, if verified, could amount to violations under the Prevention of Corruption Act, the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, General Financial Rules, UGC norms, and provisions of the Tezpur University Act, 1993. “Only an independent investigation can determine the facts,” he wrote.

The letter urges the CBI to examine procurement records, financial documents and tender files from the past several years, verify the RTI revelation on missing documents, and ensure accountability in the interest of public transparency. Saikia said an impartial inquiry is vital not only because of the scale of public money involved but also because Tezpur University represents one of Assam’s most important academic institutions, and its credibility must be protected.

Also Read: Tezpur University VC Shambhunath Singh to face probe, protests subside