IN SHORT
CBI uncovers nationwide scam involving bribes for medical college approvals across multiple states.
34 accused, including Health Ministry officials, NMC doctors, intermediaries, and a self-styled godman.
Fake inspections staged with dummy staff and patients; colleges paid crores to secure recognition.
In what is being described as one of India’s biggest medical education scams, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has exposed a nationwide bribery and corruption racket involving senior government officials, doctors, intermediaries, and a self-styled godman. The scam revolves around the illegal manipulation of regulatory approvals for private medical colleges across several states, including Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh.
The CBI’s FIR names 34 individuals, including eight officials from the Union Health Ministry, a National Health Authority official, five doctors from the National Medical Commission (NMC), and several prominent figures such as DP Singh (former UGC Chairman and current Chancellor of TISS), Suresh Singh Bhadoria (owner of Index Medical College, Indore), and Ravi Shankar Maharaj (Rawatpura Sarkar), who heads the Rawatpura Institute of Medical Sciences. Other key names include retired IFS officer Sanjay Shukla and Mayur Raval, registrar of Geetanjali University in Udaipur.
According to investigators, the scam operated through a well-organized network that leaked confidential NMC inspection schedules and the identities of assessors to private college managements. This enabled institutions to stage fake inspections by deploying dummy faculty, fake patients, and manipulated biometric attendance systems. In exchange, bribes were paid—often routed through hawala channels or bank transfers—to secure favorable inspection reports and regulatory recognition, regardless of actual merit or infrastructure.
In one instance, NMC doctors were caught accepting ₹55 lakh in cash to provide a favorable report for the Rawatpura Institute in Raipur. The CBI recovered the bribe money from the inspection team. The scam reportedly extended to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, where agents arranged fake staff and patients. Colleges such as Father Colombo Institute in Warangal allegedly paid over ₹4 crore to obtain approvals.
Further investigation revealed that sensitive documents and photographs of internal ministry files were shared with intermediaries and passed on to college representatives. Some of the bribe money was also used for personal interests. Notably, intermediary Jitu Lal Meena used funds from the scam to construct a Hanuman temple in Rajasthan.
The CBI believes the scam may involve over 40 private medical colleges across India. The investigation is ongoing, with more arrests and revelations expected in the coming weeks. The case raises serious concerns about the integrity of medical education and regulatory oversight in the country.