Mysuru, Feb. 8 -- Alleging massive irregularities in awarding tenders for building renovations and virtual tours at the Karnataka State Open University (KSOU), advocate Puttaswamy Gowda has urged the State Government to initiate a Lokayukta probe into the alleged misappropriation of KSOU funds.

Addressing the media at Pathrakarthara Bhavan, he claimed that KSOU paid Rs. 26 lakh to a private vendor for a virtual tour lasting just a few minutes, despite the actual market cost being Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 35,000.

Similar virtual tours at KSOU campuses in Chamarajanagar and Mandya were billed at Rs. 5 lakh each.

Additionally, he alleged that KSOU overpriced the digitisation of student projects, charging Rs. 250 per project, even though engineer...