MBBS Admissions Scam- ED raids medical colleges in West Bengal

Kolkata: In its recent action against alleged MBBS admission irregularities scam across India, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), conducted raids on 19 premises across West Bengal, including seven medical colleges in the state.

Speaking to UNI, official sources said, the ED, which is probing the alleged medical admission irregularities scam across India, on Tuesday began afresh search operations at multiple locations in West Bengal.

Enforcement Directorate (ED) sleuths on Tuesday started simultaneous raids and search operations at different locations in West Bengal in connection with alleged irregularities in NRI quota admissions in several medical colleges and hospitals, an officer informed PTI.

The ED sleuths fanned out early on Tuesday in groups and began intensive search operations in places like the IT hub Salt Lake in the city, the industrial port town of Haldia in East Medinipur, Durgapur in West Burdwan, and another industrial area of Budge Budge in South Parganas.

The central anti-money laundering agency aided by the CRPF for security also launched a search operation in Birbhum district, sources added.

Also Read:MBBS admission Fraud: Conman arrested for duping 10 aspirants of Rs 1.08 crore

Sources said the ED raids were being conducted into alleged corruption related to medical college admissions by submitting fake certificates in exchange for money.

According to TOI report, while absconding Trinamool Yuva leader Vinay Mishra is the director of a medical college, Malay Pit, a close aide of Anubrata Mandal, is director of another medical college. Searches were also conducted at the Haldia residence of former CPM leader Laxman Seth.

Two ED teams reached the Salt Lake BC block residence of a relative of an owner of a medical college. They searched the residence and took documents from the owner. Another team reached the medical college near Jadavpur in the evening. It all started after ED initiated a case based on an FIR at the Electronic Complex police station. Allegations suggest that fake documents were used for NRI quota admissions since 2021. Each of the seven medical colleges under scrutiny has 23 seats reserved for NRIs. These colleges charge between Rs 1.2 crore to Rs 1.7 crore annually as tuition fees from students admitted under the NRI quota. According to ED sources, cumulatively Rs 28 crore was mopped up by each of these medical colleges each year.

In September this year, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court expressed concern over the matter. The quota corruption in MBBS admissions has been reported in 28 places across the country. The admission irregularities were under the Non-Resident Indian (NRI) quota.

Also Read:MBBS admission racket busted: 4 held for duping aspirants for six months, probe on