Kolkata, December 3 (IANS). The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday conducted a search operation in the Medical College Admission Quota corruption case in Haldia, East Medinipur. ED is raiding many private medical colleges in the state including Haldia, Durgapur and Kolkata.
Allegedly, in this case, fake certificates were submitted in exchange for money and admissions were given in medical colleges. In September this year, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court had expressed concern over this matter. There have been reports of quota corruption in MBBS admission at 28 places across the country.
Each raiding party was provided security by Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel.
Sources said that irregularities worth crores of rupees in medical admissions have occurred mainly in some private medical colleges running in the state.
Sources said that the raid and search operation in Haldia is being conducted at the residence of former CPI(M) Lok Sabha member from Tamluk, Laxman Seth. Seth runs an NGO that runs private medical and dental colleges in Haldia.
According to media reports, eight private medical colleges operating in West Bengal were under the scanner of ED.
Sources said the ED had initiated the investigation based on a complaint lodged by the Electronic Complex police station under Bidhannagar City Police.
Irregularities in medical admissions under the NRI quota were first highlighted by Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Subhendu Adhikari in September.
Shubhendu Adhikari alleged that many such admissions involved preparation of fake certificates in lieu of huge cash transactions. He had also accused some senior officials associated with the state health department of being involved in irregularities.
–IANS
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