M K Surappa, Anna University Vice-Chancellor, has reportedly met Tamil Nadu governor Banwarilal Purohit on Wednesday, according to various media reports. While the Tamil Nadu government had ordered a probe against the academic alleging financial irregularities and misuse of power, there were reports yesterday about Purohit sending a letter to the Chief Minister Edappadi Palanisami expressing his displeasure over the committee set up to investigate these.
According to various reports, Surappa has now explained the situation to the governor. A few days ago, he had moved the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court seeking to be impleaded in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed this week challenging the State Government's order of inquiry against him. Arguing on the VC's behalf, his lawyer had claimed that the governor was not in favour of setting up an inquiry commission by the government. Soon, after, the case was shifted to the Madras High Court, according to reports.
A few days ago, Makkal Needhi Maiam Founder and actor Kamal Haasan had spoken out in support of the academician in a video uploaded on his social media handles. "Surappa's ideologies may be different. But when one is hunted down for his honesty, I won't be a mere spectator. This isn't a problem between an educator and a politician but between an honest man and corrupt politicians," Haasan said. Following the same, Haasan had to face a lot of criticism from activists, politicians and Twitterati. The tiff between Surappa and the government began earlier this year after the latter opposed his proposal to procure an Institute of Eminence (IoE) tag for the university by approaching the centre for funding.
