The North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) has officially suspended Professor Nirmalendu Saha, the Dean of the School of Life Sciences and a senior faculty member in the Department of Zoology, following his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on bribery charges. The university confirmed the suspension in a statement released Friday, citing standard procedural rules triggered after Saha remained in CBI custody for more than 48 hours. Professor Saha was apprehended on June 12 during a CBI sting operation at the Guwahati University Guest House, where he was allegedly caught red-handed accepting a bribe of ₹3.43 lakh. The bribe was linked to a broader scheme involving manipulation of procurement processes for scientific equipment and laboratory materials.
According to CBI officials, the professor had been working in close coordination with Pranjal Sharma, a private contractor from Beltola, Guwahati, who owns a supply firm. Investigations have revealed that the duo engaged in unethical practices to secure supply contracts for laboratory goods, with kickbacks allegedly offered in return for awarding tenders and clearing bills. The bribery case came to light after the CBI received specific intelligence indicating corrupt dealings in equipment procurement at NEHU. Acting on this tip-off, a trap operation was laid, during which both Saha and Sharma were arrested at the scene of the transaction. Following their arrest, both individuals were presented before a court in Guwahati, which remanded them to investigative custody.
The CBI has since launched a full-scale probe, conducting raids at multiple premises linked to both accused. Sources confirmed that incriminating documents were recovered from at least two locations, shedding light on the depth and duration of the alleged corruption network. Raids were ongoing at a third site as of Friday evening. NEHU’s Public Relations Officer said the university is “fully committed to maintaining academic and institutional integrity” and will “extend all necessary cooperation to the investigating authorities.” The suspension, the official clarified, is procedural and does not prejudge the outcome of the case.“As per university regulations, any faculty member who is held in investigative custody for over 48 hours is placed under suspension automatically,” the statement said.