MCI bribery scandal

Ketan Desai

CBI has arrested president of Medical Council of India Ketan Desai and two others for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs two crore to grant recognition to a medical

college in Punjab.

Desai was arrested late last night after the CBI conducted searches at his office here following information that he along with his associate Jitender Pal Singh was

allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs two crore to recognise a college in Punjab, CBI spokesperson Harsh Bahal said today.

Bahal said that Desai along with Singh and another associate

Dr Kanwaljit Singh of Gyan Sagar Medical College in Punjab have been arrested by CBI on corruption charges.

The spokesperson said that the three were being interrogated and searches were going on at six other places in Delhi and outside.

The CBI laid a trap after receiving a complaint and caught Singh allegedly with Rs 2 crore which was to be delivered to Desai.

The agency also conducted raids in Punjab, Delhi and Gujarat to trace Desai's other associates.

The main objectives of the Medical Council include maintenance of uniform standards of medical education and recommendation for recognition/de-recognition of medical

The MCI was dissolved by the President of India on 15 May 2010 following the arrest of MCI's president Ketan Desai by the CBI  on 22 April 2010. Desai and three others was arrested for allegedly accepting a bribe to permit Patiala-based Gyan Sagar Medical College to recruit a fresh batch of students without having adequate infrastructure. Desai, alleged middle-man J. P. Singh and doctors Sukhwinder Singh and Kanwaljit Singh have been booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act.TV channels showed visuals of the raid of the CBI earlier. 1400 kgs of gold, 600+ kgs of silver, over Rs.800 Crores in cash were allegedly seized from his house. CBI told that he had more than 35 lockers which were then yet to be opened and contents noted. He also was reported to own more than 400 properties across the country. But surprisingly Mr. Gulam Nabi Azad the then Union Minister of Health commented that the Government had no control over MCI and cannot take any action. Another astonishing fact was that from the next morning onwards there was not a single comment either in the newspapers or the electronic channel as to the further proceedings. What happened to the illegal assets? Were they seized? No answer. Were a complete panchnama of the lockers done? No clue. Were the over 400 properties identified and valued? No comments. He was later allowed to resign from MCI along with all related benefits. Obviously Ketan Desai could not have done this all alone. The higher ups upto the Minister must have been paid their share. Otherwise why was the issue hushed up?

(Ref: TV channel visuals during the raid and subsequent newsreports).

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