ED Takes Over Sardar Rajas Medical College Fraud Probe

Bhubaneswar: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday took over the investigation of financial irregularities at Sardar Rajas Medical College and Hospital (SRMCH) in Kalahandi district.

Tamil Nadu-based Selvam Educational and Charitable Trust, which was running the medical college, has allegedly misappropriated the amount it had received from the state government to establish the medical college at Jaring.

In July last year, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of state Crime Branch had arrested its managing trustee A Johnsel Raja, 54, on charges of criminal breach of trust and cheating.

The government had allotted 25 acres of land free of cost and Rs 20 crore for starting the college with a 300-bed hospital and all the facilities. However, the trust established the college only in 2013–2014 and admitted 100 students and then 24 students the next year.

Raja had been accused of obtaining necessary permission from the MCI for admissions to MBBS seats for 2013-14 academic session using forged and fabricated documents. The MCI withdrew its permission for admitting students for 2015-2016, citing inadequate facilities. However, he still collected huge amount from a number of students as capitation fee in violation of terms and conditions of MCI.

In September 2015, the Odisha government had lodged an FIR against Raja at Junagarh police station in Kalahandi district. The WODC lodged a complaint accusing him of violating the MOU, fraudulent documentation and playing with the future of hundreds of medical students. Earlier, the government had issued show-cause notices to it, but Raja allegedly did not reply.

The Odisha government had in 2015 lodged an FIR against Raja at Junagarh police station. The WODC also lodged a complaint accusing him of violating the MoU, fraudulent documentation and playing with the future of hundreds of medical students.

Raja had obtained permission from Medical Council of India (MCI) for admission in MBBS course for 2013-14 & 2014-15 by producing forged documents claiming to have all the facilities required by MCI for granting permission.

Even though the accused was aware that MCI would not permit the college for admissions in the academic year 2015-16, he still collected huge amount from a number of students as capitation fee in violation of terms and conditions of MCI.