23 colleges in AP bribed MCI chief

As many as 23 private medical colleges that were set up in the state between 1999 and 2009 are under the CBI scanner. All these private colleges obtained approval from the Medical Council of India during the tenure of Mr Ketan Desai, who was arrested on graft charges.

There are allegations that Mr Desai received bribes to the tune of Rs 250 crore from medical colleges in Andhra Pradesh alone.

“The case is being handled entirely by CBI officials in New Delhi,” said a CBI official in Hyderabad.

“They are expected to arrive in a couple of days and carry out inspections in all the private medical colleges that secured approval during Desai’s tenure.”

There are allegations that Mr Desai granted private medical colleges in the state approval to run MBBS and PG courses even though they failed to meet the norms.

A felicitation programmed was organised for Mr Desai by NRI Medical College in Guntur on March 23. It raked up a controversy as some alleged that managements of private medical colleges had organised the show as a token of appreciation for Mr Desai’s generosity.