Published by Aloto Naga | July 14, 2025
In a serious development from Nagaland’s academic sector, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a corruption case against Dr. Chitta Ranjan Deb, Dean of the School of Sciences and senior professor in the Department of Botany at Nagaland University, for allegedly soliciting bribes from suppliers and manipulating procurement procedures to his advantage.
The case was registered on July 12 by the CBI’s Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) in Guwahati under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018. The FIR accuses Dr. Deb of systematically demanding money from vendors in exchange for awarding supply contracts for laboratory equipment and materials, resulting in unlawful gains to himself and losses to the institution.
Vendors Targeted for Kickbacks
According to reliable sources, the case stems from multiple complaints and intelligence reports indicating that Dr. Deb had demanded a ₹2 lakh bribe from Ravindra Kumar Jain, owner of M/s Jaldhara and Company, a Jorhat-based supplier. The bribe was allegedly linked to an earlier ₹5 lakh supply order already delivered to the university and an upcoming procurement of ₹23 lakh worth of scientific consumables.
The same FIR also mentions another vendor — Gulzar Hussain of CS Power Solutions, also from Jorhat — who was reportedly asked to pay ₹15,000 in relation to the supply of UPS batteries and related electrical items to the Department of Botany.
Investigators believe that these demands were not isolated. The FIR suggests a pattern in which certain vendors were granted repeated supply contracts in exchange for “undue advantages,” including cash deposits via ATM machines and direct bank transfers.
CBI Trap and Source Input
The FIR was triggered by a tip-off revealing that Dr. Deb was scheduled to travel from Nagaland to Jorhat on July 12 specifically to collect the bribe amount from Jain and to also meet Hussain on the same day. Based on this information, a formal case was registered, and a team from the CBI ACB Guwahati was assigned to the investigation.
A senior official with knowledge of the matter stated, “The Dean allegedly exploited his position to benefit select vendors and himself. Evidence shows recurring demands for money in return for favorable treatment in procurement.”
Procurement Under Scrutiny
The ongoing investigation will now examine a wider set of supply orders processed under Dr. Deb’s authority during his tenure in the School of Sciences. The CBI is expected to probe the university’s internal documentation, vendor communication records, and financial trails involving both public and private accounts. The agency will also assess whether other faculty members or staff were complicit in these acts.
Silence from University Authorities
As of this report, Nagaland University has not issued any public statement regarding the allegations. No disciplinary or administrative action has been confirmed, although internal sources indicate that the matter has reached the university’s higher management.
Dr. Deb, who holds a prominent position within the university’s academic hierarchy, has been known for his long-standing service in the sciences faculty. The corruption charges have cast a shadow over the institution’s credibility and raised fresh concerns over accountability in public universities.
⚖️ What Happens Next?
- The accused is expected to be summoned by CBI officials for formal questioning.
- Procurement records from the Department of Botany will be cross-examined.
- Financial transactions involving vendors and university accounts will be scrutinized.
- The investigation may expand to check for systemic corruption involving additional departments or senior officials.
