Another CMJ varsity official arrested in Meghalaya

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Friday arrested another top official of Meghalaya's private CMJ University in connection with selling fake Ph.D. degrees, a CID official said.

"We have arrested Mrinal Kanti Deb, the registrar of the CMJ university today (Friday) in connection with the alleged issuance of fake Ph.D. degrees to students," B.R. Rana, inspector general in-charge CID, told IANS.

Deb's arrest came a day after CID officials arrested the varsity deputy registrar Premlal Rai, who is now admitted in a government-run hospital on the advice of doctors.

"Both the university registrar and deputy registrar have been arrested and booked on various charges, including fraud and cheating," Rana said.

The university was established in 2009 following a bill passed by the Meghalaya assembly, which became the CMJ University Act, 2009, after receiving the governor's assent.

A lower court Wednesday rejected the anticipatory bail application moved by Deb and Rai.

University director Manjeet Kaur and human resource manager Juban Kharpuri had also applied for anticipatory bail, which was also rejected.

"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," Public prosecutor I.C. Jha said.

The CID began investigating the functioning of the private university following a complaint by Governor R.S. Mooshahary, who is also the university's visitor.

Chandra Mohan Jha, chancellor of CMJ University, went into hiding after the Meghalaya governor's secretariat lodged a first information report (FIR) against the university for alleged lapses and fraud involving fake degrees for students.