A massive medical education scam has been exposed in India, implicating senior government officials, doctors, and even a self-styled godman, with the CBI describing it as potentially one of the country's largest. The investigation reveals a widespread bribery and corruption network used to manipulate regulatory approvals for private medical colleges across multiple 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 prominent figures such as DP Singh (former UGC Chairman and current Chancellor of TISS) and Ravi Shankar Maharaj (Rawatpura Sarkar), who heads the Rawatpura Institute of Medical Sciences.
The scam operated through a well-organized network that leaked confidential NMC inspection schedules and the identities of assessors to private college managements. This allowed institutions to stage fake inspections using dummy faculty, fabricated patient records, and manipulated biometric attendance systems. In return, bribes were paid to secure favorable inspection reports and regulatory recognition, regardless of the college's actual merit or infrastructure.
The investigation began with a bribe-for-inspection case at Sri Rawatpura Sarkar Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (SRIMSR) in Raipur, where six individuals, including three doctors, were arrested for allegedly accepting ₹55 lakh to issue a favorable inspection report. The CBI caught the doctors red-handed, recovering a significant portion of the bribe money.
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; for example, intermediary Jitu Lal Meena allegedly 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 alleged racket also implicates officials from the Ministry of Health. Confidential data, including inspection details, were leaked to individuals and representatives of private institutions. A former member of the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) is accused of acting as a key middleman, using his influence to extract bribes.
The CBI's findings reveal a concerning level of corruption within the regulatory framework of medical education, with fake teachers and bribed officials enabling unqualified colleges to operate. The agency is continuing its investigation, tracing the flow of funds and examining all accused, including the high-profile godman and ex-UGC chief.
