The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) had suspended Vice-chancellor Maheshwor Man Shrestha and Registrar Niroj Raj Pandey on corruption cases last week. Similarly, Exam Controller Mohan Bahadur Basnet and Chief Accountant Laxman Gelal were also expelled on similar charges.

Acting on a tip-off, the anti-graft body on Wednesday directed the government to suspend two more university officials, Humanities and Social Science Dean Shambhu Prasad Koirala and Deputy Dean of Science Department Rajensh Jha, in connection with corruption complaints filed at the CIAA. Officials  at the CIAA said more university officials and professors are likely to be dragged into controversy once the anti-graft body begins interrogation of the suspended officials.

The PU officials said the suspension of its senior officials has hampered the university's decision making process on exams and budget matters.

Having already lost its reputation owing to irregularities and failing to follow academic calendar, professors fear the university will further suffer after the suspension of high-profile officials.

Professors added that if the government does not fill vacant positions immediately, scheduled exams would be affected.

However, the government is reportedly allowed to appoint professors to fill the vacant posts for a three-month period as a temporary solution.

"The vacant posts should be filled immediately to smoothly run the institution," said Dinesh Subedi, president of the Purbanchal University Professors' Association.

According to CIAA investigators, the suspended officials have received millions in bribe for affililiating nursing, management as well as humanities and social science colleges to PU. The university flouted regulations while providing affiliation to eight out of the 50 colleges.

Top officials were found involved in embezzling millions while procuring goods for the University.

The complaints lodged by politicians and the university professors state that those suspended officials misappropriated funds worth over Rs 400 million during the construction of a building in Morang district.

"Our calculation shows at least Rs250 million was embezzled by the university administration in collusion," said a CIAA investigator.