Chandra Mohan Jha University

Shillong, May 9: Meghalaya’s CID sleuths today made the first arrest in the Chandra Mohan Jha University case a few days after they began an investigation into the functioning of the private university.

A top Meghalaya police officer told this correspondent that the deputy registrar of the university, Premlal Rai, had been arrested under Sections 420, 466 and 406 of the IPC.

The arrest came after applications for anticipatory bail moved by Rai and three others were rejected by the court of the district and sessions judge yesterday.

Registrar Mrinal Kanti Deb, university director M. Kaur and human resource manager Juban Kharpuri had also applied for anticipatory bail.

Public prosecutor I.C. Jha told this correspondent that none of the four persons who had applied for anticipatory bail appeared before the court yesterday, which was fixed as the day for final hearing of the bail application.

“We had also opposed the anticipatory bail application in view of the seriousness of the case. After hearing the matter, the court rejected the application,” Jha said.

A police officer said the police are looking for others too, indicating that more arrests are likely to follow in the coming days.

On Chandra Mohan Jha, who is also the university chancellor, the police officer said: “We are looking out for him”.

Till last week, it was reported that Jha was in Bihar to attend a family wedding.

The CID began investigating into the affairs of the private university following a complaint lodged by the office of Governor R.S. Mooshahary who is also the visitor of the university.

The university has been in the news after Mooshahary brought to fore various irregularities in its functioning.

In a letter addressed to Chandra Mohan Jha, chairman, CMJ Foundation and chancellor of the university, on April 30, principal secretary to Mooshahary, M.S. Rao, raised several points on irregularities in the functioning of the university.

The principal secretary’s letter had not only sought an explanation, but had also directed the university to withdraw or recall all degrees to students of the university.

At the same time, Rao said admission of students into the university was “illegal”.

The private university is also alleged to have awarded PhD degrees to 434 students during 2012-2013, and enrolled 490 students for the PhD programme during 2012-2013.

The university was established in 2009 following a bill passed by the Meghalaya Assembly which became an act (CMJ University Act, 2009) after receiving the governor’s assent.