Rs 55 Lakh Bribe Busted; Favourable Inspection Reports for Medical Colleges Under Scanner
New Delhi:
In a sweeping crackdown on corruption in the medical education sector, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has booked 34 individuals, including senior officials from the Union Health Ministry and National Medical Commission (NMC), for their alleged involvement in a massive bribery and inspection manipulation racket aimed at benefitting private medical colleges.
According to a PTI report, the accused include:
- 8 officials from the Union Health Ministry
- 1 official from the National Health Authority
- 5 doctors from the NMC’s inspection team
- Several intermediaries and senior representatives of private medical colleges
Key Accused and Institutions
Among those named in the FIR are:
- TISS Chairman D.P. Singh
- Gitanjali University Registrar Mayur Raval
- Rawatpura Institute of Medical Sciences Chairman Ravi Shankar Maharaj
- Index Medical College Chairman Suresh Singh Bhadoria
The CBI arrested eight individuals in Raipur on Tuesday, including three NMC doctors allegedly caught red-handed accepting a Rs 55 lakh bribe to issue a favourable inspection report for Rawatpura Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (SRIMSR).
How the Scam Worked: Modus Operandi
The CBI FIR alleges that officials from the Union Health Ministry colluded with intermediaries to:
- Leak confidential inspection schedules and identities of NMC assessors
- Accept bribes to ensure favourable inspections
- Facilitate use of ghost faculty, fake patients, and tampered biometric systems
Inspections were pre-arranged, and doctored reports were submitted to help colleges meet recognition and seat approval requirements, the CBI said.
The bribery money was allegedly routed through hawala channels and, in one instance, was even justified in the name of temple construction.
Raids, Arrests, and Court Proceedings
The CBI conducted raids at over 40 locations across Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.
Those arrested include:
- Dr. Manjappa C.N., HoD Orthopaedics, Mandya Medical College
- Dr. Chaitra M.S., Dr. Ashok D. Shelke
- Atul Kumar Tiwari, Administrative Director, SRIMSR
- Sathisha A. and Ravichandra K.
- Dr. Atin Kundu, Medical Director of SRIMSR and Asst. Professor, Raipur Govt Medical College
The accused were produced before a CBI Special Court in Raipur; the agency has sought a 5-day remand.
Fallout: NMC Takes Stern Action
Following the developments, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has:
- Blacklisted an assessor caught taking a bribe of Rs 10 lakh
- Blocked seat renewal and expansion for a private medical college in Karnataka for AY 2025–26
- Ordered cancellation of new course applications from the implicated institute
The CBI continues its investigation and has maintained that credible evidence shows deliberate manipulation of regulatory procedures in collusion with ministry officials and college administrators.
Broader Implications
The expose has shaken public trust in the regulatory oversight of medical education, raising questions about the integrity of inspection processes, transparency in college approvals, and the ethical conduct of those charged with overseeing India’s future doctors.
