The Ahmedabad Crime Branch is currently investigating Gujarat University’s infamous animation scam involving former coordinator Kamaljit Lakhtariya. 

According to details from the university’s judicial and departmental investigation report, the Animation Department generated a total fee revenue of over ₹24.25 crore from self-financed courses and programmes between 2017-18 and 2021-22. 

From this amount, over ₹17.65 crore was paid to knowledge partners and agencies running these courses. The investigation revealed that more than ₹3 crore was paid to these knowledge partners fraudulently.  

As per the MoU between the Animation Department and knowledge partners, Gujarat University was to receive 40% of the total revenue from 2017-18 to 2020-21, while the knowledge partners would receive 60%. 

For 2021-22, the university’s share was set at 30.70%. In July 2023, after a new vice-chancellor took charge, suspicion arose regarding irregularities in the Animation Department.

Consequently, on August 8, 2023, Dr Kamaljit Lakhtariya, Associate Professor at GU was removed from his position, and all financial transaction documents, including cheque books, were seized from him. 

Later, in October 2023, the vice-chancellor assigned the chief accountant to investigate the matter.  

The judicial inquiry report includes findings from the chief accountant’s internal investigation, which states that the total revenue generated from private courses and programmes over five years (2017-18 to 2021-22) was ₹24,25,68,150. Of this, the university received ₹3,17,85,750, while knowledge partners were paid ₹17,75,12,336.  

Following the university accountant’s initial investigation, an external Chartered Accountant was hired in December 2023 for further scrutiny. The audit examined transactions in eight bank accounts—seven in private banks and one in a government bank—related to the Animation Department. 

This investigation confirmed that payments were not made as per the MoU terms, meaning the university received less than its due share, while knowledge partners were overpaid. 

Based on the audit, the Executive Council (EC) passed a resolution on July 16, 2024, suspending Lakhtariya from his academic duties and initiating a departmental inquiry.  

As per the charge sheet, the university received ₹6,52,41,510 less than the agreed 40% share, ₹4,09,74,695 less than the 30% share, and ₹1,67,27,880 less than the 20% share. 

Between 2017 and 2021, the university suffered a shortfall of ₹3.27 crore. Despite multiple investigations, it remains unclear whether the university actually lost over ₹6 crore or ₹3 crore, and the exact amount overpaid to knowledge partners is also undetermined. As a result, the scam remains a significant mystery, and the Crime Branch investigation is ongoing.  

₹1.64 crore transferred to traders’ accounts  

The charge sheet further alleges that ₹1,64,69,950 was transferred to traders’ accounts without any supporting documents. In response to a legal notice,  professor Lakhtariya reportedly submitted all necessary records and evidence. However, his explanations were deemed unsatisfactory, and the report concluded that the allegations were substantiated.  

₹16.54 crore in suspicious bank transactions  

The bank accounts of the Gujarat University Animation Department, were opened in a private nationalised bank, recorded financial transactions worth ₹16,64,52,882 between 2019 and 2023. 

However, complaints arose that these transactions lacked official approvals or supporting documents, leading to further allegations of misconduct.

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Animation dept head terminated in GU over financial misappropriation