Akola: A month-long preliminary inquiry into alleged financial irregularities at Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth’s (PDKV) agricultural college has resulted in a police case against seven persons, including former university officials, employees and a contractor. The case relates to suspected duplicate payments, discrepancies in official records and missing documents.Based on a complaint filed by the university on August 1, Akola MIDC police registered an FIR in the early hours of September 2. Investigators said the probe will determine the specific role of each accused and establish whether any other individuals were involved.The preliminary inquiry reportedly revealed several anomalies in payment records. Among them were nine payments allegedly processed using same voucher number, raising suspicions of duplicate disbursements. Investigators also found that records concerning 18 of the 23 questioned payments were not available in the work and stock registers.Police are scrutinising bills, vouchers, work orders, measurement books, stock records and administrative approvals to verify whether the payments corresponded to work that was actually carried out and whether established procedures were followed.Another aspect under investigation concerns claims that the university’s engineering office had objected to the rates quoted for certain works, yet the contracts were later awarded at those rates. Police are examining who approved the works and authorised the payments despite the objections.The alleged disappearance of official records has further widened the scope of the probe. According to police, three files linked to the suspected duplicate payments, along with related documents and work registers, are missing from the office. An audit conducted during financial year 2025-26, covering transactions from 2019-20 and 2020-21, had reportedly found that 74 payment-related files of the agricultural college were unavailable.Investigators are now attempting to trace the missing records and determine when they disappeared and who had custody of them at the time. They are also examining whether the missing files are directly connected to the disputed payments.MIDC police station in-charge Vijay Jadhav said the investigation will cover the entire chain of transactions, from the preparation of bills and supporting documents to the approval of work orders and release of payments. Police have begun efforts to trace the accused and are examining financial and documentary evidence. Further action, including possible arrests, will depend on the findings of the investigation, officials said.
