Seven major controversies rock VIT University in 3 years:From obscene videos to violence at Sehore campus charging ₹10 lakh fees and hosting officials’ and industrialists’ children

The Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) campus, located in Ashta, Sehore district, has remained embroiled in controversies over the last three years. From protests over basic facilities to allegations of making obscene videos of female students, the campus has witnessed repeated incidents of unrest. A student has also died by suicide, and even a former registrar has faced police action over assaulting a security guard. In the latest episode, students have once again launched a protest against the university administration. Dainik Bhaskar traced seven major controversies reported from VIT in the past three years. Here’s a detailed timeline of when and why these disputes erupted. 1. May 25, 2024: 2,000 students take to the streets at midnight Around 2,000 students gathered on the campus at midnight, accusing the university of failing to provide drinking water despite charging high fees. Earlier, the university had emailed students regarding a water shortage, advising them to avoid oily and spicy food and to use water sparingly. Students alleged they were not even getting clean drinking water. Angered by the situation, students gathered at the Bhopal–Indore highway-facing VIT campus around midnight and staged a protest, shouting slogans. They reportedly vandalised university property and damaged a professor’s car. The protest continued until 3 AM, after which the administration announced early summer vacations—despite ongoing examinations. Many students at VIT come from influential families, including bureaucrats and industrialists. Annual fees range between ₹7–10 lakh. At the time, VIT administration official Amit Singh denied any water shortage and claimed the reason for the unrest was unclear. 2. October 14, 2024: Registrar accused of beating guard with a stick A case was filed against VIT’s then-registrar, Devashish Adhikari, after a security guard accused him of assault. Guard Ram Avatar Verma reported to police that on the night of October 12, while he was on duty at Gate No. 4, his walkie-talkie battery drained. He went to Block 6 to replace it, and upon returning, the registrar confronted him. When the guard explained the situation, the registrar allegedly abused him and beat him with a stick lying near the gate. The supervisor intervened to stop the assault. 3. November 5, 2024: Video of female students bathing surfaces A major scandal broke out when an objectionable video of female hostel residents bathing surfaced. The university suspended 74 students—12 permanently, and the remaining for six months to one year. The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) submitted a complaint to Governor Mangubhai Patel, prompting him to set up a four-member investigation committee led by Prof. Anil Shivani from Hamidia College. 4. November 7, 2024: Clash between ABVP workers and university guards After the video incident, ABVP activists arrived on campus to protest, demanding the suspension revocations within three days. When the administration did not respond, activists gathered at the campus again. A confrontation broke out between activists and security guards, resulting in injuries to three ABVP members and two guards. Police registered cases against both sides. 5. February 20, 2023: Clash between two student groups Two student groups clashed, leaving two injured. On the complaint of an injured student, police registered a case against four third-year B.Tech students. The fight reportedly started when student Subodh Khan was walking with his hands in his pockets after dinner. Some third-year students objected, leading to an argument that escalated into a brawl. Another student, Rudra Maurya, who arrived later, was also beaten. 6. July 8, 2022: Fine for reciting Hanuman Chalisa in hostel Seven students were fined Rs 5,000 each for reciting the Hanuman Chalisa inside the hostel. Then Home Minister Narottam Mishra publicly criticised the decision, saying, “If Hanuman Chalisa cannot be recited in India, where else will it be?” He ordered an inquiry into the matter. 7. August 17, 2022: Student found hanging in hostel room Naitik Anand, a student from Bihar, was found hanging in his hostel room. The police registered a case, though no clear motive was established. At the time of the incident, his roommate had gone out for dinner.