CBI registers FIR against 6 in AIIMS Bhubaneswar Recruitment scam

Bhubaneswar: In a latest update on the alleged irregularities in the recruitment process of four staffers at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered an FIR against six individuals, including an officer from the institute, in connection with the case.

The accused have been identified as an Assistant Administrative Officer of AIIMS-Bhubaneswar's recruitment cell, Rajashree Panda, Sangram Mishra, Sai Sagar Kar, Shri Sambit Mishra, and Sruti Sagar Kar. Among them, four were previously absconding, news agency PTI reported.

The agency acted on the findings of its preliminary enquiry registered by it in March that prima facie showed a case of criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery, and bribery.

Also read- CBI raids AIIMS Bhubaneswar, Interrogates 27

Medical Dialogues in February 2025 reported that the CBI carried out a five-hour raid at the AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, following allegations of irregularities in the recruitment process. Acting on a tip-off and several complaints, the CBI team interrogated 27 individuals, including staff from the institute and seized crucial documents related to the alleged scam.

The CBI team, comprising nine members, conducted a raid within the Academic Block of the hospital. Their investigation focused on how four temporary staff members from the same family managed to secure permanent job positions—two posts for sanitary inspectors and two for clerks—without any new candidate being given the opportunity.

Additionally, it was discovered that these employees had submitted fake certificates, including forged work experience letters obtained from Ghaziabad and Gorakhpur. However, the agency's suspicion became strong after it noticed how a premier institute like AIIMS failed to detect fraudulent activities during the verification process.

Suspecting a potentially larger loophole in the institute's recruitment process, the agency team spent hours examining the recruitment files, certificates and employment records along with digital evidence and communication records of the suspected four individuals. These four employees were currently on the run. Meanwhile, the AIIMS authorities denied any involvement in the recruitment scam and confirmed their cooperation with the agency's investigation.

Following this, the agency identified the involvement of six men and accordingly booked them. The CBI has alleged that Sruti Sagar Kar, an employee of Bombay Intelligence Security (India) Limited (BIS), had conspired to secure permanent employment for his relatives and family members at AIIMS-Bhubaneswar.

PTI reported that the recruitment process was compromised using forged educational and work experience certificates for posts advertised on July 1, 2023. It is alleged that Panda (Sruti Sagar Kar's wife), Sangram Mishra, Sai Sagar Kar and Sambit Mishra had secured the jobs on the basis of forged educational documents issued by Shree College of Paramedical Sciences, Ghaziabad.

"Further, no such college or university infrastructure, i.e the college and Allied Healthcare Council of India to which the college is affiliated, was found to exist at the addresses mentioned on their website," the FIR has alleged.

The CBI also detected irregularities regarding work experience. Certificates showing their service at B.R.D. Medical College in Gorakhpur, in roles like sanitary inspector and medical record technician, were found to be fake.

The certificates were fabricated and allegedly arranged by Sruti Sagar Kar in conspiracy with the applicants and others, officials said.

The preliminary enquiry showed that the Assistant Administrative Officer played a pivotal role in the conspiracy as he did not bring to the notice of higher authorities that the verification letter sent to the Ghaziabad institute had returned undelivered, allowing the four candidates to continue with their jobs.

Also read- CBI raids AIIMS Rishikesh over allegations of irregularities