MBBS Seat Fraud at Karakonam Medical College: ED files chargesheet

The ED's chargesheet highlights that Rs 7.22 crore was allegedly collected from the parents of 28 children under false promises of medical admissions. When these promises were not fulfilled, the college administration attempted to pacify the parents by returning the money. However, the church refused to compensate all affected individuals, and a significant portion of the funds was reportedly diverted to other church projects, reports the Hindu Post.

The chargesheet further implicates college director Bennett Abraham and other officials, including former Sabha Secretary TT Praveen, former Finance Controller P Thankaraj, and Clerk PL Shiji. These individuals were found to be directly involved in the fraudulent activities.

The Karakonam Somervell Memorial CSI Medical College Hospital, one of the first four private medical colleges in Kerala, is owned by the South Kerala Medical Mission (SKMM) of the South Kerala Diocese (SKD), part of the Church of South India (CSI). Located approximately 35 kilometres south of Trivandrum City, the institution has been at the centre of a significant scandal.    

Initially, the Kerala Police Crime Branch investigated the case but exempted top church officials when filing their chargesheet. This led the defrauded parents to approach the Kerala High Court, which subsequently directed the ED to take over the investigation from the Vellarada police, Thiruvananthapuram.     

After starting the investigation, ED called the accused for questioning several times and conducted raids at Bishop House headquarters, Karakonam Medical College, and the houses of the accused. The investigation revealed that the collected bribes were smuggled abroad, violating foreign exchange regulations. Following questioning by the ED in July 2022, the accused attempted to flee to England but was intercepted by immigration authorities at Thiruvananthapuram Airport on the ED’s instructions, reports the Daily.     

Two of the accused were noted for their connections with influential politicians in Kerala, including former Thiruvananthapuram Congress MP and Communist Party of India (CPI) candidate who contested the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. The chargesheet comes after investigations by Kerala’s Admission and Supervisory Committee for Medical Education, which reported that students had paid up to Rs 60 lakh for admissions, including aspirants from Tamil Nadu, who were ineligible for medical courses in Kerala.    

The internal conflict within the CSI Church brought these corrupt practices to light. The Kerala High Court had previously questioned the state police on their inaction against the accused, with Justice P V Kunhikrishnan expressing concerns over the lack of arrests. The Pinarayi Vijayan government has faced criticism for its leniency towards the church, allegedly to secure political support.