Initial investigation by CBI at Shri Rawatpura Sarkar Medical College Manyata Bribery has made it clear that Ravi Shankar Maharaj (Rawatpura government) was bargaining for a direct bribe from Tata Institute of Social Science (TISS) chairman DP Singh. DP Singh has also been the former chairman of UGC as well as education advisor to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Vice Chancellor of BHU, Devi Ahilyabai University, Indore and Sagar University.
The accused in the case are Sanjay Shukla, retired IFS officer of Chhattisgarh and President of Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA). He is also associated with Rawatpura College. Till now only college director Atul Tiwari has been arrested, while Ravi Shankar Maharaj, Sanjay Shukla, accountant Laxminarayan Tiwari and Dr. Atian Kundu are out of the grip of CBI.
Medical colleges recognized in lieu of big bribery
It has been clear in the CBI investigation that a well-planned racket is running within the UG-PG board in the National Medical Commission (NMC). It also has connivance with officials of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. This racket has given recognition to many private medical colleges in exchange for a big bribe, while they were not meeting the standards of recognition.
Ravi Shankar Maharaj himself was bargaining
Regarding recognition standards, Ravi Shankar Maharaj bargained TISS Chairman DP Singh. After this, Atul Tiwari offered the head of the National Medical Commission Inspection Team staying at a hotel in Raipur and Dr. Manjappa CN, HOD of Orthopedics Department at Mandya Institute of Medical Science Bangalore, directly offered Rs 55 lakh. Dr. Manjappa, other members of the inspection team, asked Dr. Satish of Bangalore, Dr. Chaitra MS, Dr. Ashok Shelke to give equal share to everyone.
Dr. Satish had collected 55 lakh rupees from Chaitra’s husband Ravichandran in Bengaluru through hawala operator. Meanwhile, on July 1, the CBI caught Dr. Manjappa, Dr. Chaitra MS, Dr. Ashok Shelke and Atul Tiwari to Raipur and Dr. Satish and Ravichandran in Bengaluru.
Corruption in recognition of medical colleges
The bribery of more than 1,300 crores is at the top of the list of CBI investigation, Sri Rawatpura Medical College, Nawa Raipur, which tried to take recognition in exchange for bribery. Along with this, there are signs of early arrest of other college officials.
Sources say that evidence of taking bribes of more than Rs 1,300 crore in the name of getting recognition to private medical colleges in eight states across the country has been revealed in the CBI investigation. Preparations are being made for the arrest of 35 nominated accused including NMC and 11 officers of the Union Health Ministry along with five prominent officials of Shri Rawatpura College, who came under investigation.
