Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has suspended Professor Rajeev Sijariya following his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with a bribery case involving the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). The decision came after a committee reviewed the allegations and advised the university’s vice chancellor on the matter.
Allegations and Arrest in NAAC Bribery Case
According to the FIR, Sijariya was among ten individuals detained in a corruption case linked to NAAC. Investigators discovered that the NAAC inspection team allegedly demanded ₹1.8 crore from Andhra Pradesh’s Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation (KLEF) in exchange for a favorable accreditation rating, as reported by The Indian Express.
Initially, the team set a high price, but after negotiations, they reportedly agreed on a lower amount. The bribe was structured as ₹10 lakh for the chairman, ₹3 lakh for each member, along with additional perks, including a laptop and travel expenses for a member’s wife.
Furthermore, the FIR claims that Sijariya played a significant role in arranging the deal. At first, he allegedly demanded ₹1.3 crore for himself but later settled for ₹28 lakh.
Past Controversies and Faculty Complaints
Notably, this is not the first controversy surrounding Sijariya. In 2023, his two-year tenure as Dean of JNU’s Atal Bihari Vajpayee School of Management and Entrepreneurship (ABVSME) was cut short. The decision came after multiple faculty members accused him of “undemocratic decision-making” and “instigating students against faculty members.”
JNU’s Decision to Suspend Sijariya
Following these developments, The Indian Express reported that a three-member committee examined the situation and suggested his suspension. As a result, JNU Vice Chancellor Santishree Pandit issued an official suspension order.
The order stated, “Rajeev Sijariya… has prima facie been found to be involved in the corruption case related to allegations of bribery for securing a favourable A++ NAAC accreditation rating to KLEF… The undersigned in exercise of her powers… hereby places … Sijariya under suspension with immediate effect from the services of the University pending the outcome of the CBI inquiry/findings and departmental inquiry.”
Sijariya’s Background and Academic Credentials
Sijariya joined JNU in 2020 during the tenure of former Vice Chancellor M. Jagadesh Kumar. His academic qualifications include a PhD in Management, specializing in Consumer Behaviour, an MBA in Marketing and Human Resource Management, and an MSc in Physics (Electronics).
With over 25 years of professional experience, he has dedicated 21 years to academia and administrative leadership. However, his recent arrest and suspension have put his career under scrutiny.