Amid CBI Bribery Case, PCI Chief Montu Patel Removed from Gujarat State Pharmacy Council

Earlier, Medical Dialogues team had reported that Patel came under the scanner of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in July after raids were conducted at his residence in Ahmedabad. He was accused of granting approvals to pharmacy colleges in exchange for bribes, manipulating inspections, and issuing irregular recognitions. Documents and financial records were seized, and the probe was widened to other states. Patel, elected PCI president in 2022, was also serving as president of the Gujarat State Pharmacy Council.

The controversy adds to earlier criticism faced by PCI. In May, the Supreme Court had pulled up the council for arbitrary rejection of pharmacy college approvals and failure to apply due process. The developments have intensified scrutiny of PCI’s functioning at a time when reforms in pharmacy education regulation are already being debated.