Nehu professor, bizman held in Guwahati for graft

Guwahati: Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Guwahati arrested two persons — a professor from the North Eastern Hill University (Nehu), Shillong and a Guwahati-based proprietor of a firm — on bribery charges from the city, the investigating agency said on Thursday.CBI confirmed that Nirmalendu Saha, professor of zoology and dean of the School of Life Sciences, Nehu, Shillong, and businesman Pranjal Sharma of Guwahati have been arrested. CBI said the professor and the proprietor were arrested while taking a bribe of Rs 3.43 lakh at the Guwahati University Guest House in Guwahati.Saha and one Pranjal Sharma were allegedly involved in corrupt deals of scientific equipment and laboratory items. They were allegedly named in an FIR.The investigating agency said it registered a case on Wednesday against Saha and Sharma based on information that the accused proprietor of a firm, while acting in collusion with the professor and some other unidentified persons, was involved in corrupt and illegal practices. In pursuance thereof, Sharma facilitated Saha to obtain undue advantage against the award of supply orders of scientific equipment, laboratory items, etc., and clearance of bills thereof, CBI said.CBI added that it laid a trap and caught the accused red-handed. It said the arrested accused will be produced before the competent court in Guwahati on Thursday and investigation is on."Searches were conducted at two places, which led to the recovery of incriminating documents. A search is being conducted at one more place," the CBI release read.