An educated land grab
Now recently several of these sages retired, and I was wondering if they are going to have that nice cushy landing they had dreamed of. But Vedanta University, like the Vedas, cannot be found! It is gone. Just like farmland near Noida, or any bustling unethical metropolis. And why? Here is the reason. Apparently, Vedanta University was just a giant land grab. One of India's biggest. They sought land more than all of the IITs combined. They got clearances from the Odisha government that were, well, ad hoc, at best. Why? Some fraternal help in some elections. What was the plan? Well, there is high mineral deposit on that land. It is right next to the tourist/religious paradise of Puri, Konark, and the beautiful eastern sea cost, so perfect for high-end hotels, golf clubs, and a dash of technical education.
Truly, Anil Agrawal is a visionary. He saw that far. But what else would you expect from a guy who looks like a cross between a chap you wouldn't want to give money to, and a guy who will take it anyway.