CBI Arrests NAAC Inspection Committee Chairman and JNU Professor in Bribery Case

New Delhi, February 2, 2025 – The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested the chairman and six members of a National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) inspection committee, including a professor from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), in connection with a corruption case. The arrests were made after a series of operations in which the CBI apprehended several individuals allegedly involved in bribing the NAAC inspection committee members to secure an A++ accreditation for Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation (KLEF) in Andhra Pradesh’s Guntur.

Among those arrested are the chairman of the inspection committee, Samarendra Nath Saha, who is also the vice-chancellor of Ramchandra Chandravansi University, and committee members Rajeev Sijariya, professor at JNU, D. Gopal, dean at Bharath Institute of Law, Rajesh Singh Pawar, dean at Jagran Lakecity University, Manas Kumar Mishra, director at G L Bajaj Institute of Technology & Management, Gayathri Devaraja, professor at Davangere University, and Bulu Maharana, professor at Sambalpur University.

The CBI’s investigation led to the discovery of alleged bribe payments made to the NAAC team, including cash, gold, mobile phones, and laptops, which were recovered during searches conducted at 20 locations across India, including Chennai, Bengaluru, Vijayawada, Palamu, Sambalpur, Bhopal, Bilaspur, Gautam Budh Nagar, and New Delhi. In total, the CBI has seized approximately ₹37 lakh in cash, six Lenovo laptops, one iPhone 16 Pro, and other incriminating items.

The investigation is ongoing, and the CBI continues to search for more evidence and individuals involved in the case.

This case has sent shockwaves through the academic community, raising questions about the integrity of the accreditation process and the measures needed to prevent such incidents in the future. The CBI has assured the public that it will leave no stone unturned in bringing all those involved to justice.