VISAKHAPATNAM — In a major blow to the integrity of the nation’s transport services, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a First Information Report (FIR) against a high-ranking railway medical officer and two loco pilots for their alleged involvement in a “bribe-for-certificate” racket. The case, which spans multiple divisions of the South Central Railway, exposes a deep-seated corruption ring where official medical reports were allegedly traded for illegal gratification to facilitate favorable job transfers and sick leave regularizations.
The Core Allegations
The investigation centers on Dr. Jyoshna Priyadarshini, a Senior Divisional Medical Officer previously posted in Nandyal, Guntur division. According to the CBI FIR (RC0362026A0006) dated April 27, 2026, the doctor allegedly colluded with an intermediary, Shaik Rasool Karimulla, to demand and accept bribes from railway staff seeking specific medical outcomes.
In one instance, Lakkakula Venkata Shiva Jyothi, a loco pilot who had been reassigned as a technician due to previous medical grounds, reportedly sought to regularize a long period of sick leave. The FIR alleges that Dr. Priyadarshini demanded ₹1 lakh to facilitate a favorable re-screening report, a sum that was later negotiated down to ₹75,000.
Seeking a “Stationary Job”
A second case involves Gadidapati Ramesh Babu, a loco pilot in the Guntur division. Babu allegedly sought to be declared “medically unfit” for the rigorous “running crew” duties—which involve operating trains—to secure a transfer to a less demanding stationary position.
The investigating agency found that the doctor allegedly informed Karimulla that she had referred Babu’s case to the Central Hospital in Lallaguda, Secunderabad, with specific instructions to manipulate clinical tests, including a Video EEG, to support his decategorization.
The Money Trail
To evade detection, the accused utilized a sophisticated money trail. Payments from the loco pilots were allegedly transferred to the intermediary, Karimulla, who then moved the funds into the bank account of Dr. Priyadarshini’s driver. This digital footprint has become a cornerstone of the CBI’s case, revealing that both primary incidents took place in June of the previous year.
Impact on Safety and Operational Efficiency
Railway officials and employees have expressed alarm over these findings, noting that such practices not only drain the exchequer but also pose a significant risk to operational safety. When unfit individuals are medically certified to operate trains—or when fit individuals are allowed to avoid duty—the entire system’s efficiency and safety are compromised.
A senior official remarked that these revelations could lead to increased scrutiny and harassment for genuine medical cases, as trust in the medical department has been severely eroded. The CBI continues to examine the potential involvement of other staff at the Central Hospital in Secunderabad as part of a wider investigation into the medical certification process.
