The North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) has suspended senior faculty Professor Nirmalendu Saha following his arrest by the CBI in connection with a bribery case.
Professor Saha, who heads the department of zoology and also the dean of the school of life sciences, was arrested on June 12 along with the proprietor of a firm, Pranjal Sharma for accepting a bribe of Rs 3.43 lakh at Guwahati University guest house.
The suspension order, signed by the Pro Vice-Chancellor of NEHU Shillong Campus, Prof. Sumarbin Umdor, was issued after Prof. Saha completed 48 hours in CBI custody.
“Prof. Saha is deemed suspended after being in CBI custody for 48 hours. Upon receiving official communication from the agency, the university issued the suspension letter,” NEHU Public Relations Officer Dr. Davidson Pyngrope, said in a statement.
The CBI had registered a First Information Report (FIR) on June 11 against Saha and Sharma.
The investigating agency had said that both the arrested persons acted in collusion along with other unknown individuals to indulge in corrupt and illegal practices and that the accused professor obtained undue advantage against award of supply orders of scientific equipment, laboratory items etc. and clearance of bills.
Searches were also conducted at two palaces which led to recovery of incriminating documents.