Article Today, New Delhi:
In a significant move that has sent ripples across the country, the Union Government has removed Dr. Gangadhar, Chairman of the National Medical Commission (NMC). He has been replaced by Dr. Abhijat Chandrakant Seth. The decision comes in the wake of serious allegations of corruption in the recognition of medical colleges and seat allocations.
Massive Bribery Scandal in Medical Colleges
The removal of the NMC chief follows the uncovering of a multi-crore bribery scandal involving the approval of private medical colleges. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered FIRs against several key officials and intermediaries. These include NMC inspection team members, senior officials in the Union Health Ministry, and college managements. The accused are alleged to have accepted large bribes in exchange for clearing colleges without required infrastructure or qualified staff.
CBI Alleges Pre-Inspections Tip-Offs and Fake Staff
According to the CBI, inspection teams leaked their schedules to college representatives in advance. This allowed colleges to make temporary arrangements that falsely portrayed compliance with norms. In several cases, ghost faculty, fake patients, and even tampered biometric systems were used to deceive regulators. The CBI’s FIR highlights how inspections were manipulated and favorable reports were sold for crores of rupees.
Telugu Names Surface Among the Accused
The list of accused includes several individuals from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Notably, Dr. Venkat, director of Gayatri Medical College in Visakhapatnam, and Father Joseph Kommareddy from Father Colombo Institute of Medical Sciences in Warangal have been named. Others include former UGC chairman D.P. Singh, officials from Rajasthan, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh. Senior NMC team members such as Dr. P. Rajini Reddy, Manjappa C.N., and Ashok Shelke have also been mentioned.
Swamiji Among the Main Accused
One of the central figures in this scam is Swami Ravi Shankar Ji Maharaj, popularly known as Rawatpura Sarkar. He founded the Rawatpura Sarkar Lok Kalyan Trust in 2000, which manages a network of educational institutions across Madhya Pradesh. The CBI alleges that his medical college was among those that benefited from fraudulent approvals. Political connections and religious clout reportedly helped him evade scrutiny for years.
Health Ministry Officials Also Under Scanner
The FIR also names several serving officials from the Union Ministry of Health, including Poonam Meena, Dharamveer, Piyush Malyan, Anup Jaswal, Rahul Srivatsava, Chandan Kumar, Deepak, and Manisha. The extent of their involvement is under investigation. According to sources, more suspensions or removals may follow as the inquiry progresses.
Rampant Collusion Despite Investigations
Even as the CBI probe continues, reports suggest that NMC inspection teams have not altered their practices. Advance warnings and under-the-table deals reportedly continue in coordination with private colleges. This has raised serious questions about institutional accountability and the effectiveness of internal checks.
Deeper Malaise in Medical Education System
This scam highlights the deep-rooted corruption in India’s medical education system. Despite being a regulatory body meant to ensure high standards, NMC is now under the scanner for facilitating illegal approvals. The credibility of medical education is at stake, as unqualified colleges continue to flourish with bureaucratic support.
More Revelations Likely as Probe Widens
Sources close to the investigation believe that more shocking details may emerge in the coming weeks. The CBI is expected to summon several key players, and arrests are likely. The scandal has turned public attention towards urgent reforms in medical education governance and regulatory oversight in India.
