Controversy and probe over former Vice-Chancellor Neerja Gupta's foreign travel expenses

Former Gujarat University Vice-Chancellor Neerja Gupta has once again been caught in a vortex of serious controversies. Several serious questions have been raised regarding the expenses incurred behind her various domestic and foreign tours. According to ABP Asmita's report, a controversy has erupted over Neerja Gupta's expenses for trips to Delhi, Indore, Bengaluru and Japan, among others. Furthermore, allegations have also surfaced that her acquaintances were sent to Bangkok and Tokyo at government expense. A probe committee will now investigate various issues including travel expenses in this entire matter.

According to Sandesh's report, it has been revealed that massive bills exceeding ₹ 28 lakh were passed behind the former Vice-Chancellor's tours during the period of 2025-26. The most crucial point in this controversy is that despite rules to travel in economy class, claims have been made that Neerja Gupta traveled in business class without permission. This matter has raised major questions regarding the misuse of government grant money.

A major instance of violation of education department rules is linked to the Japan tour. According to Sandesh, while granting approval for the Japan tour, the Deputy Secretary of the Education Department had made a clear note that the expenses of this tour would not be borne by the government or the university. Despite this, an expense of ₹ 14 lakh behind Neerja Gupta's Japan tour in January 2026 was incurred from the university's GUPIER institution. ABP Asmita has also noted that an allegation has been made that the condition stating the government will not bear the expense for this January 2026 Japan tour was not complied with.

The center of controversy is not only the former Vice-Chancellor, but also others who accompanied her on tours. According to ABP Asmita, her cronies were also taken along on tours with the former Vice-Chancellor. The names of Dhaval Shah of P. Jamnadas Company and Sameer Shukla of blacklisted Octers Company have surfaced in this list. Details regarding Dhaval Shah's foreign travel expenses have also come to light. According to ABP Asmita's report, an expense of approximately ₹ 2.28 lakh was incurred behind Dhaval Shah's Bangkok tour, while an expense of over ₹ 5.54 lakh is claimed to have been incurred behind him for the Japan tour. Allegations are being made that all these expenses were borne by the university.

According to Sandesh's report, in April 2026, the expenses for Dhaval Shah's Bangkok and Japan tours totaling air travel, hotel and cab came to ₹ 1.54 lakh. In this manner, serious questions have been raised regarding the compliance of rules and the utilization of university funds in the travel expenses of the former Vice-Chancellor and her acquaintances. Neerja Gupta has remained surrounded by corruption allegations on several issues earlier as well.

Now, a probe committee is functional to resolve this entire controversy. This committee will investigate all details regarding the approvals obtained for travel, compliance with travel expense rules and the utilization of university funds. All eyes will be on what findings emerge on issues of business class tickets and other related expenses during the probe.