By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Political patronage is believed to have provided a platform to Chandra Mohan Jha, the Chancellor of CMJ University, who was earlier indicted in a case by the CBI.
Little is known about Jha’s qualifications and whereabouts but confirmed reports have emerged that he has close ties with former Chief Minister DD Lapang. Both Lapang and Jha were closely associated with the North East India Trust for Education and Development (NEITED). Lapang was the chairman of NEITED but he resigned later after criminal charges were filed against the Trust.
However, despite several complaints, no action was taken against Jha by the State Government.
In February 2011, Jha was arrested by the Meghalaya police but he was immediately released on bail.
The Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited, Shillong had filed charges against NEITED, Shillong, for default on a loan taken in 2003-04 for infrastructure development.
As per media reports, NEITED had availed of a North Eastern Council (NEC) scheme on tele-health education for a number of schools in Shillong through video conferencing.
The money was withdrawn fraudulently on several occasions, using phony names of companies in connivance with some staff of the NEC, but schools were not provided with the required infrastructure by NEITED, which eventually led to a CBI enquiry.
Meanwhile, CMJ University Deputy Registrar Premlal Rai, on Friday, said that the University will file a case against the recent events that have taken place in the University.
“We are waiting for the Chancellor’s return,” Rai said.
Rai also claimed that the University had only issued Ph.D notifications to the students and the degrees will be awarded in August this year. He also said that the CMJ University campus in Jorabat was open and in operation.
When asked about the qualification of Chancellor CM Jha, the Deputy Registrar said, “He is a doctorate and he did his doctorate from abroad.”
When asked about the name of the University from where he obtained his doctorate, Rai said, “That I don’t remember now but he is a very qualified man.”
The Deputy Registrar also denied that Jha was absconding and stated that he was in Bihar to attend a wedding and will be back by Monday.