PUNE, Nov. 12 -- The Bombay High Court has ordered a multi-agency investigation into the affairs of 44 educational institutions operated by the Sinhgad Technical Education Society (STES) and its trustees over suspicions of financial irregularities and diversion of funds.

The order to have the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Income Tax department look into the trust's operations was passed by a special bench of justices G S Kulkarni and Advait M Sethna on Tuesday in connection with about 220 petitions filed by teaching and non-teaching employees of the institutions over the years complaining about prolonged non-payment of salaries and retirement benefits.

The court noted that the outstanding dues w...