IIT-Delhi Chairman praises Director's stint, says unhappy with RK Shevgaonkar's resignation

NEW DELHI: The HRD Ministry on Sunday confirmed IIT Delhi director RK Shevgaonkar had resigned, but refused reports that he did so after the ministry pressurised him to provide land for a cricket academy by Sachin Tendulkar and to release Rs 70 lakh to Subramanian Swamy as salary dues.

Confirming Shevgaonkar’s resignation, chairman of the Board of Governors of IIT-D, Vijay P Bhatkar, praised his term at the helm and said he was unhappy with his leaving.

“He has resigned citing personal reasons. I spoke to him and asked him to reconsider his decision, but he insisted. He said that he has been away from his family for a long time,” Bhatkar told ET from Pune, adding that a final decision would be made by HRD minister Smriti Irani.

The ministry has tried to distance itself from the latest controversy saying Shevgaonkar was under no pressure from the government. A few months ago, NCERT chief Parvin Sinclair had quit with two years left to complete tenure. IGNOU V-C M Aslam has gone on leave pending the outcome of an inquiry against him regarding irregularities in his conduct.

Swamy said: “The ministry has recently sent the director a notice about his activities in Mauritius where he has set up an institute without talking to the government. Conduct rules require that anything related to the foreign government to be done through the External Affairs Ministry. He’s violated that.”