Whistle blower Professor of IIT Guwahati terminated, candle march vigil protest by students

November 18: Dr. Brijesh Kumar Rai, Associate Professor of Department of Electronics and Electrical Engineering in IIT Guwahati was allegedly terminated from service. In a YouTube video uploaded by a research student at IIT Guwahati, Vikrant Singh, Dr. Brijesh Kumar Rai alleges that there have been corruption in various cases and also in terms of staff selection within the institution. As per  reports, Rai had alleged that the institution is practicing corruption and later false charges were levelled against him which led to his termination from service.

As a mark of protest, thousand of students of IIT- Guwahati carried a candle march vigil protest supporting Dr. Rai who they alleged the administration is targeting for blowing a whistle in the illegal activities of higher ups in the institution including the vice chancellor.

The research scholars of IIT Guwahati has also made a social media page, “I Support Dr. Brijesh Kumar Rai” to oppose injustice and oppose corruption. Students who went out on candle march protest alleged that the Director of the institution TG Sitharam recently, spent 40 lakhs on his bunglow and office, which includes exorbitant costs such as Rs 1.8 Lakhs for a table. The students on condition of anonymity alleged that the director and deans of IIT Guwahati had held a meeting at a five star hotel in August and allegedly paid the bills from college funds.

Dr. Brijesh Kumar Rai, the Professor who was allegedly terminated speaks in a youtube video about how he has been framed over the months. He said that he had written to several higher ups including the President of India but failed to get any response. Dr. Rai said, In one year, about 50 people were illegally employed. So when I came to know about these, shall I sit silent?”

However, the research scholars and students of IIT Guwahati are confident of carrying forward this movement against their institution for wrongly implicating their professor.