Bribery Scandal: Murshidabad Medical College sacks NMC Assessor

Murshidabad: Following the arrest of a senior doctor- an assessor with the National Medical Commission (NMC) in a bribery case, the Murshidabad Medical College Hospital (MMCH) authorities issued a notice to him on Monday, removing him from the position of HOD Anatomy Department and dissolving all committees in which he held membership.  

While serving as the Head of the Anatomy Department at Murshidabad Medical College, Dr. Tapan Kumar was appointed to several committees, including the advisory and convocation committees. However, following his arrest, the college authorities decided to remove him from his position as Head of the Anatomy Department and dissolve all committees in which he was involved.

Medical Dialogues recently reported that Dr Kumar was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for allegedly taking Rs 10 lakh bribe to provide a favourable inspection report to a private medical college. The CBI officials recovered an additional cash amount of Rs 44.6 lakh during searches at Kolkata, Bardhaman and Belgaum.

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The doctor was caught in the act during a sting operation conducted in Kolkata, where he took the bribe to give a positive inspection report to a medical college based in Karnataka's Belgavi. The anti-corruption wing of the CBI, with the help of local police and government officials in Burdwan, launched a marathon search operation from Saturday night to Sunday morning into his house in Burdwan and was arrested after the central agency seized many incriminating documents, cash and jewellery and other documents.

Searches were conducted by CBI at residential and official premises of the accused public servant and other private persons at several locations in Kolkata, Bardhaman and Belgaum, which led to the recovery of additional cash of approximately Rs 44.60 Lakh and including incriminating documents and articles. The total amount of cash recovered during the operation is Rs. 54.60 Lakh.

The action was taken by the Murshidabad Medical College Hospital authorities after several faculty members across various departments urged the administration to remove Dr. Tapan Kumar from all administrative positions without delay.

It has also come to light that Dr Kumar was a member of the CPI-M-backed Association of Health Service Doctors (AHSD). He was a general member of the association till the year-2024-25 and his membership was supposed to be renewed this year, but AHSD instead decided not to renew his membership for the year 2025- 26 after his arrest.

Speaking to The Statesman, Dr Utpal Banerjee, general secretary of the AHSD said, "The charges brought against Prof Jana by the CBI is very serious and we also want every legal steps should be taken if he is proved involved in taking bribes in exchange for issuing a favourable “inspection report” to a private medical college in Karnataka. He was never a portfolio holder in our association. General membership in our association starts from March every year, and we have decided not to renew his membership this time till he is proven innocent in the case."

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