The Vice-Chancellor of the Rajiv Gandhi Central University, K C Belliappa, was briefly arrested for allegedly sending an 'offensive' e-mail to a lady faculty member.

Belliappa, who was later released on bail, was rounded up yesterday by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of police here on a complaint by a woman colleague who lodged an FIR under sections 66/A and 66/C of the IT Amendment Act against the VC, ASP J K Mehta told PTI.

In her complaint, the woman had accused the VC of making derogatory reply to an e-mail sent from her mail id on April l3 last.

The first mail, sent from her account, had been sent without her knowledge by "some unknown person using my mail id", but the VC made derogatory comments in a return mail, without ascertaining, the complainant claimed.

The development capped the months' long agitation by students against Belliappa alleging he had indulged in nepotism and demanding the VC be removed. This prompted the VC to announce he will shift office to Delhi in a press release on May 2.

The VC also volunteered to Union Human Resources Development Ministry for any probe not only against him but also to examine all the recent incidents in the campus.

In February, the university lodged an FIR against unknown youths for assaulting the VC at his residence in the campus.