Latest news with #LettersofRenewal
The Hindu
05-07-2025
- The Hindu
Three persons from A.P. among 35 booked by CBI in NMC ‘scam'
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered an FIR against 35 persons from across the country, including three from Andhra Pradesh, on charges of criminal conspiracy and accepting bribes as part of an alleged nationwide scam involving National Medical Commission (NMC). The three persons who have been named in the FIR are Dr. Krishna Kishore from Visakhapatnam; and Venkat, Director of Gayatri Medical College, Visakhapatnam; and Dr. B. Hari Prasad from Kadiri in Anantapur district. The CBI has intensified the investigation after receiving concrete information that some officials associated with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and NMC were involved in an alleged criminal conspiracy with intermediaries and representatives of various private medical colleges across the country to manipulate the regulatory process for bribes. The persons, who have been named in the FIR, had allegedly facilitated unauthorised access, unlawful duplication and dissemination of confidential files and sensitive information pertaining to the regulatory status and internal processing of medical colleges within the Ministry. They have allegedly been involved in manipulating the statutory inspection process, conducted by the NMC, by pre-emptively disclosing the inspection schedules and identities of the designated assessors to the medical institutions concerned well in advance of the official communication. These included the use of 'ghost faculty', fake patients, tampered biometric records, and bribed assessors to secure favourable reports. Investigation revealed that one Dr. Virendra Kumar allegedly coordinated operations in southern India through Dr. B. Hari Prasad, Dr. Krishna Kishore, and Dr. Ankam Rambabu from Hyderabad. Posing as a consultant, Dr. Virendra Kumar allegedly arranged dummy faculty for inspections and facilitated Letters of Renewal and other NMC approvals in return of bribes. Dr. B. Hari Prasad, while posing as a consultant to medical colleges, allegedly engaged in unlawful activities such as arranging dummy faculty members for statutory inspections and facilitating the issuance of Letters of Renewal and other regulatory approvals from authorities, including the NMC, for bribes. He allegedly had collected ₹50 lakh from Venkat to ensure a favourable resolution of a matter pending before the NMC. Some of the bribe amount was allegedly subsequently transferred to Dr. Virendra Kumar in Delhi via hawala channels. Dr. Hari Prasad and Dr. Ankam Rambabu allegedly jointly managed the regulatory affairs of Father Colombo Institute of Medical Sciences, Warangal. In return, Fr. Joseph Kommareddy of the institute allegedly had paid ₹20 lakh and ₹46 lakh on separate occasions. These payments were allegedly routed to Dr. Hari Prasad through intermediaries via formal banking channels. The CBI also mentioned in the FIR that bribes, running into lakhs of rupees, were allegedly exchanged between the NMC teams, intermediaries and representatives of medical colleges, being routed through hawala and used for multiple purposes, including construction of a temple.
New Indian Express
04-07-2025
- New Indian Express
CBI names three Andhra Pradesh men in NMC scandal
Preliminary findings suggest the accused unlawfully accessed and disseminated confidential files related to medical college inspections and regulatory status. They also allegedly leaked NMC inspection schedules and assessor identities in advance, allowing institutions to prepare fraudulent setups to pass inspections. These included the use of 'ghost faculty,' fake patients, tampered biometric records, and bribed assessors to secure favourable reports. The investigation further revealed that Dr Virendra Kumar, another accused, coordinated operations in southern India through Dr Hari Prasad, Dr Krishna Kishore, and Dr Ankam Rambabu of Hyderabad. Posing as a consultant, Virendra Kumar arranged dummy faculty for inspections and facilitated Letters of Renewal and other NMC approvals in return for bribes. The CBI found that Venkat, Director of Gayatri Medical College, paid Rs 25 lakh to ensure a favourable decision on a pending matter with the NMC. A portion of this bribe was reportedly routed to Dr Virendra Kumar in Delhi through hawala transactions. Sources said Dr Hari Prasad and Dr Ankam Rambabu jointly oversaw regulatory matters for Father Colombo Institute of Medical Sciences in Warangal. Raids held across multiple locations.
