NAAC Officials Wanted ₹1.8-Crore Bribe for A++ Rating; Chairman, JNU Professor Among 10 Held: CBI
Bribe-for-Ratings Scandal Casts Doubt on NAAC’s Accreditation Integrity
In a major crackdown on alleged corruption in the accreditation of higher educational institutions, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested the chairman and six members of a National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) inspection committeeamong them a professor from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) for allegedly demanding bribes to award top ratings. A total of ten individuals, including officials of the Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation (KLEF), have been held.
Bribe Demand for A++ Rating
According to a separate report, NAAC officials had allegedly demanded a bribe of nearly ₹1.8 crore from KLEF in return for granting the institution an A++ rating. Investigations by the CBI revealed that the KLEF management arranged luxury hotel accommodation and lavish gifts such as mobile phones, earpods, and other valuables for NAAC officials. It was further alleged that a “common hamper” of these items and cash was offered to the visiting inspection committee.
Sources familiar with the probe say that NAAC team members had threatened to withhold a favorable final report if their demands were not met. Eventually, a 29-page “favourable” inspection report was prepared, helping KLEF secure the top rating.
Arrests and Accusations
Among those arrested on Saturday is NAAC inspection committee chairman Samarendra Nath Saha, who also serves as the vice-chancellor of Ramchandra Chandravansi University. Six committee members were taken into custody, including Rajeev Sijariya, a professor at JNU; D. Gopal, dean of Bharath Institute of Law; Rajesh Singh Pawar, dean of Jagran Lakecity University; Manas Kumar Mishra, director of G L Bajaj Institute of Technology & Management; Gayathri Devaraja, professor at Davangere University; and Bulu Maharana, professor at Sambalpur University.
The CBI also arrested G P Saradhi Varma, vice chancellor of KLEF, Koneru Raja Hareen, vice president of KLEF, and A Ramakrishna, director of K L University (Hyderabad Campus). They are accused of offering bribes to ensure KLEF received a high accreditation rating.
Other individuals named in the FIR but not yet arrested include Koneru Satyanarayana, president of KLEF, L Manjunatha Rao, a former NAAC deputy adviser, M Hanumanthappa, professor and director (IQAC-NAAC) at Bangalore University, and M S Shyamsundar, an adviser at NAAC.
Searches and Seizures
The investigating agency conducted searches at about 20 locations across the country, including Chennai, Bangalore, Vijayawada, Palamu, Sambalpur, Bhopal, Bilaspur, Gautam Budh Nagar, and New Delhi. According to a CBI spokesperson, searches led to the recovery of:
- ₹37 lakh in cash
- Six Lenovo laptops
- One iPhone 16 Pro mobile phone
- Other incriminating materials
The CBI stated that “undue advantage” in the form of cash, gold, mobile phones, and laptops was provided to the NAAC inspection team members by office-bearers of KLEF. All those arrested are being booked under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and criminal conspiracy. Further arrests may follow as the investigation expands.
Ongoing Probe
While more details are expected to emerge as the probe continues, the CBI alleges that manipulations in accreditation processes can undermine the credibility of the country’s higher education standards. NAAC, an autonomous body under the University Grants Commission (UGC), is tasked with evaluating and accrediting higher education institutions across India. The arrests have raised serious concerns about transparency and fairness in the accreditation system, prompting calls for stricter oversight and reforms.
Reasons for Doubt on NAAC’s Accreditation Integrity
- The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) has long been considered a key pillar for quality assurance in Indian higher education.
- Recent reports of a bribery scandal involving NAAC inspection committee members have shaken public trust in the accreditation process.
- Allegations include high‐value bribes in exchange for granting top ratings to certain institutions, casting doubt on NAAC’s integrity.
- The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested several individuals, including professors and institutional heads, in connection with the case.
- Investigations reveal that luxury accommodation, expensive gifts, and large sums of cash were allegedly funneled to the inspection team.
- Officials purportedly threatened to withhold favorable accreditation results unless their demands were met.
- Such malpractices undermine the very foundation of NAAC, which is tasked with promoting excellence in teaching and research.
- Stakeholders worry that corruption at this level could severely compromise the value of NAAC certifications.
- Credible accreditation is vital not only for students choosing institutions but also for employers and global academic collaborations.
- With India aspiring to be an international hub for higher education, controversies like this can deal a major blow to its reputation.
- Observers are urging stronger oversight and reforms within NAAC to prevent similar incidents from recurring.
- Transparency in the inspection process, from selecting evaluators to publishing reports, is being cited as a necessary step.
- The CBI’s continued probes may uncover deeper networks, further implicating those who enabled or participated in the scheme.
- Many call for revisiting the parameters for evaluation and how much discretion is granted to visiting assessors.
- Institutions that genuinely adhere to high standards stand to lose out if corruption becomes pervasive in accreditation bodies.
- The scandal also raises questions about broader accountability structures within India’s educational regulatory framework.
- Critics emphasize that repeated or high‐profile incidents of graft erode public confidence in government‐appointed bodies.
- Higher education experts advocate for independent third‐party audits to keep the accreditation process above reproach.
- NAAC leaders, meanwhile, face the challenge of restoring trust and ensuring past misdeeds do not overshadow legitimate assessments.
- Ultimately, the scandal serves as a wake‐up call for the country’s educational ecosystem, highlighting an urgent need for systemic reform.
Prof. N.Sriram, Editor, Pharmachronicles, Hyderabad
