ED raids medical colleges in ten states over bribery and money laundering probe

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday launched coordinated searches across ten states in connection with a money laundering investigation into alleged bribery in granting approvals to medical colleges for running academic courses. The raids were conducted at around 15 locations, including offices of seven medical colleges and premises linked to private individuals and middlemen.

The case stems from allegations that several medical colleges paid hefty bribes to secure academic sanctions from authorities without meeting the required standards. Instead of complying with official inspection norms, some institutions allegedly used agents and officials to manipulate inspections, forge records, arrange ghost faculty and fake patients, and influence regulatory approvals illegally.

Among the institutions under scrutiny are Shri Rawatpura Sarkar Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, Index Medical College in Indore, and Swaminarayan Medical College in Gujarat. Investigators believe these colleges are part of a larger network suspected of offering bribes to secure permissions to run MBBS and specialist medical courses.

The ongoing probe covers institutions and individuals in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi. Officials indicated that over 40 medical colleges nationwide are suspected to have benefited through illicit methods.

The ED is investigating whether the bribe amounts, allegedly involving crores of rupees, were routed through hawala channels and used to obtain undue approvals for continuing or starting medical courses. Officials said more searches and questioning will follow as the money trail is examined.

The investigation aims to crack down on corruption in medical education and ensure that approvals are granted on merit and infrastructure standards, not through bribery.