New Delhi: Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has suspended Professor Rajeev Sijariya after he was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in a bribery case linked to the NAAC rating. But what is the case? It revolves around allegations that bribes were paid to secure an A++ rating for Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation (KLEF) in Vaddeswaram, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, during a National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) inspection. So far the CBI has arrested 10 persons, including the chairman and six members of the NAAC inspection committee. Professor Sijariya of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee School of Management and Entrepreneurship is one among the arrested individuals.
Who all have been arrested?
G P Saradhi Varma, vice-chancellor, KLEF
Koneru Raja Hareen, vice-president, KLEF
A Ramakrishna, director, KL University, Hyderabad campus
D Gopal, dean, Bharath Institute of Law
Rajesh Singh Pawar, dean, Jagran Lakecity University
Manas Kumar Mishra, director, GL Bajaj Institute of Technology & Management
Gayathri Devaraja, professor, Davangere University
Bulu Maharana, professor, Sambalpur University
The CBI FIR also names KLEF president Koneru Satyanarayana, NAAC former deputy adviser L Manjunatha Rao, and NAAC adviser M S Shyamsundar, though they have not been arrested yet, reported Business Standard.
What’s the case’ Odisha connect?
A professor of Odisha’s Sambalpur University, Bulu Maharana, was among the arrested person in connection with the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) bribery case. The CBI conducted necessary investigation and searches at his residence on Tuesday.
Maharana, a faculty of the Library Science department of the university, was a part of the six-member team that had gone to inspect an educational institution in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh.
