A Colonel of the Army Medical Corp was among three persons arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in New Delhi on Monday in connection with leakage of sensitive information relating to inspections, recognition of courses and administrative decisions/action contemplated by the Medical Council of India (MCI) against medical colleges.
After registering a case against Col. Ajay Kumar Singh, Santosh Kumar, Lower Division Clerk in MCI, B. Ramachandhiran, Chairman, Sri Venkateswara Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Puducherry, and others, the CBI’s Anti-Corruption Branch conducted searches on their premises in New Delhi, Chennai and Puducherry which resulted in the seizure of ₹2 crore and incriminating documents.
The allegation is that Col. Singh, Mr. Kumar and two of their Delhi-based associates were part of a racket that leaked strategic information to the owners/management of medical colleges/institutions in return of “huge periodical illegal gratification.”
The MCI is a central regularity authority that maintains uniform standards of medical education in the country and recommends recognition/de-recognition of courses offered by medical colleges.
Assessor with council
The CBI said it had credible information that Mr. Kumar was in regular contact with Mr. Ramachandhiran residing in Chennai for sharing of “sensitive information” regarding MCI inspection, approvals etc pertaining to Sri Venkateshwaraa Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Puducherry.
He was also in touch with Col. Singh, empanelled as an Assessor with the MCI for inspecting various medical colleges. The duo had meetings with Mr. Ramachandhiran and demanded illegal gratification for rendering support and providing information at regular intervals. While one part of the bribe was paid recently, the remaining part was to be paid soon through hawala channels. While tracking this input, investigators arrested one of their associates soon after he accepted ₹10 lakh from two hawala agents in Chandhini Chowk, New Delhi.
