Two professors of NIT-K arrested for swindling ₹13 lakh citing NCC work

National Institute of Technology at Surathkal. The ‘2 Kar Engr Coy NCC (Army Wing)’ has been functioning at NIT-K Surathkal since 1963. It is affiliated with the Mangalore Group, under the Karnataka and Goa Directorate. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Police arrested two professors of the National Institute of Technology (NIT-K), Surathkal for claiming ₹13.51 lakh for travel, accommodation, and daily allowance by submitting forged documents to show that they attended NCC camps and duties.The two professors were Associate NCC officers of the ‘2 Kar Engr Coy NCC (Army Wing)’ at the institute.On September 2, P. Sam Johnson of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and H. Shivananda Nayaka of the Department of Mathematical and Computational Sciences (MACS), were booked under Sections 316 (2) (criminal breach of trust), 336 (3) (forgery committed with specific intention), 340 (using forged document), 316 (5) (aggravated form of criminal breach of trust by people in specific places of high responsibility, and 318 (4) (cheating) of BNS, 2023.On September 4, the duo were arrested.Mangaluru Police Commissioner Sudheer Kumar Reddy said that the accused will be produced before a magistrate.In his complaint to Surathkal police, the Director of the institute B. Ravi accused P. Sam Johnson of swindling the government of ₹12.32 lakh and H. Shivananda Nayaka of ₹1.18 lakh.He alleged that they had submitted forged documents, including detailment orders and attendance certificates, to show that they attended NCC camps and other duties between May 5, 2023, and May 16, 2026. These documents were used to claim travel, accommodation, and daily allowances.In one of the cases, the professors claimed ₹1.18 lakh each as TA, DA, and accommodation allowance by submitting the same fake detailment order and attendance certificate. The claimed to have attended a Pre-Thal Sainik Camp – II in Bengaluru between June 28, 2025 and July 7, 2025.Forgery exposed during internal auditThe Director of the institute informed that ‘2 Kar Engr Coy NCC (Army Wing)’ has been functioning at NIT-K Surathkal since 1963. It is affiliated with the Mangalore Group, under the Karnataka and Goa Directorate. The unit is administered by a Commanding Officer, who is deputed from the Indian Army, and Associate NCC Officers (ANOs), who are selected from among the regular faculty members of the institute.NIT-K undergoes mandatory internal financial audits, verified by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India. During such an internal audit, the TA/DA claim bills submitted by the two Associate NCC Officers (ANOs) of the institute were found to be based on false documents. Since this represents a criminal offence, a complaint was lodged in the Surathkal Police Station to investigate the matter.An internal investigation is underway to ascertain the extent of financial fraud, and the involvement of others in this matter.Mr. Ravi said, “The institute is committed to the principles of MITRA – merit, integrity, transparency, responsibility and accountability. The NCC unit of NITK is the pride of the institution as well as the region, and must uphold the values of morality, ethics, honesty and integrity.”The institute has appointed Mohan Lal Meena, Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering, as the NCC Care Taker Officer in place of the two ANOs. He will be functioning under the guidance of Lt. Col. Nikhil Khullar, the Commanding Officer (CO) of the 2 Kar Engineer Company NCC at NIT-K.Mr. Meena possesses a ‘C’ certificate. He will be undergoing the training necessary for his appointment as Associate NCC Officer, the Director stated. Published - September 04, 2026 12:15 pm IST