MBBS Seat Scam: Police Seizes Computers of NMC Officials, begins Interrogation
New Delhi: In the latest development regarding the MBBS seat scam and the involvement of the National Medical Commission (NMC) officials in the matter, the Delhi Police has seized the computer of two officials of the Commission posted at the rank of deputy secretary.
Apart from this, the police also questioned around 6-7 senior officials of the panel and some of the medical colleges, sources informed TOI. The cops informed that they were at an advanced stage of investigation and that arrests would be made soon. The case is being monitored by Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported about the scam in which fake/forged Letter of Permissions (LoPs) were being used by to increase the number of medical seats in some medical colleges. It had been reported that at least two senior NMC officials and four medical colleges were facing an investigation by the Delhi police in this regard.
Police officers confirmed to TOI that the investigation and technical teams of the National Cyber Forensic Laboratory inspected the NMC office located in Dwarka.
Apart from seizing the computers of two officials and commencing interrogation in this connection, the investigation team has also sought the CCTV footage of the cameras installed at the office of the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB).
Confirming this, a senior officer told the Times of India on Saturday, "We have also sought the CCTV footage of cameras installed at the office of NMC's MARB (Medical Assessment & Rating Board) and the details of the visitor's register maintained at the gate."
With the help of the footage, cops would be able to rule out any unauthorised entry to the NMC premises on the days when the fake letters permitting increase of seats had been sent to the medical colleges.
During the visit to the Dwarka office, police seized computers used by then deputy secretary and undersecretary of MARB NMC. A senior police officer added, "The computers were seized for forensic analysis and to rule out any tampering and unauthorised access."
The Daily adds that when these two officials were questioned, they denied having sent the emails. Meanwhile, Police have also asked NMC to provide the original and certified copies of the public notices and the letters of permissions that had been issued by them. Using the original copies, the cops will compare them with the ones that were issued to the colleges.
While the officers have not yet disclosed the exact number of seats that had been increased fraudulently at various medical colleges, an officer revealed, "The increase in seats was for courses like MBBS, MD and MS. One college was permitted to increase the seats in MS ophthalmology from five to 10, in MD general medicine from seven to 24 and in MS-ENT from one to 4 seats."
Allegedly forged Letters of Permission were used by medical colleges seeking to increase their intake capacity and consequently, they were allowed to do so. Even though such LoPs issued were forged, they were made to appear genuine by using the official email ids which the concerned institutions were intimated.
Those involved in the scam allegedly made changes on the website to make those LoPs seem genuine. After detecting these fraudulent activities last year in August, NMC removed the permission letters, carried out an inquiry and filed a complaint with the police. Based on the complaint, the Police filed an FIR under IPC sections pertaining to criminal conspiracy and cheating and Section 66C of the Information Technology Act.
The complaint was filed by the Deputy Secretary at the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) of NMC, AK Singh, who reported that forged LoPs were being issued to various medical colleges using the official email ID. This email ID belongs to an official of the rank of deputy secretary who previously had been looking after the affairs at MARB.
However, during the course of an internal inquiry, when the concerned official was told about the letters he had purportedly sent allowing the colleges to increase the intake of students for various courses, he was shocked. It has also come to light during the probe that another official had changed the website to suggest that the permissions given were genuine.
Meanwhile, last year, NMC issued a notice and asked colleges not to consider those permission letters as valid. Noting the issuance of fake/forged Letter of Permission (LoP) claiming an increase of MD and MS seats, NMC MARB issued clarification regarding the same.
Initially, in its communication published on its website, NMC had clarified regarding the fake/forged Letter of Renewals and Letter of Permission issued to Meenakshi Medical College, Kanchipuram, and Santhiram Medical College, Kurnool respectively.
These forged letters claimed to be issued on behalf of the Member/President of MARB. In respect of Meenakshi Medical College, Kanchipuram, the fake letter was issued regarding the renewal of permission for the MBBS course for the 4th Batch (3rd renewal) on 01.05.2023.
Another three fake letters were issued to Santhiram Medical College, Kurnool for an increase of Postgraduate Medical Seats in three specialties including MS-Ophthalmology, MD General Medicine, and MS ENT.
"lt is clarified that the above said letters have not been issued by the Member/President, MARB. These letters are forged/fake and cannot be considered as valid permission from the Medical Assessment and Rating Board, National Medical Commission," NMC had mentioned in the notice dated 29.08.2023.
