Bail plea of former MCI chief rejected

NEW DELHI - The Delhi High Court Friday rejected the bail plea of former Medical Council of India (MCI) chief Ketan Desai, arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in April for allegedly accepting a bribe.

Rejecting Desai’s application, Justice Mukta Gupta said: “Desai is the main accused and now being in custody, people are coming forward to give complaints against his misdeeds, which would have to be inquired and thereafter investigated if need arises. So I am not inclined to grant bail to the petitioner at this stage.”

The court Thursday reserved its order on the bail plea of Desai and other two accused in the case. It, however, granted bail to J.P.Singh, another accused in the case, on his furnishing a personal bond of Rs.100,000 and two sureties of the like amount.

Accepting the CBI’s contention that Desai’s influence is proving a hindrance to probing the case further, the court said: “It is because of the influence of the petitioner, nobody came forward to make complaints against him regarding demand of money or for giving approval/permission to colleges without requisite infrastructure.”

The court said that it was for this reason that the CBI had to put a notice on its website, requesting the people to come forward to give complaints against Desai or other MCI officials if they had any complaints.

“The fact that the petitioner (Desai) was in custody and on the CBI’s assurance, a number of complaints have been received, which now have reached up to 225 approximately, demonstrates the fact that people are not willing to come forward and complain against the petitioner due to his influence.”

The court also rejected Desai’s plea that he has to see his ailing mother whose health is deteriorating day by day, the court said.

“No ground is made out for release on bail in view of the fact that the petitioner is the only son who has to look after his mother, as his wife is a doctor and running a nursing home. Thus, there are sufficient number of doctors to take care of the old ailments of his mother, which need no emergent attention.”

Desai was arrested by the CBI April 23 for demanding Rs.2 crore to grant recognition to a medical college in Punjab. Two employees of the college and an alleged middleman were also arrested.

Police claimed searches at various premises of Desai revealed huge amount of cash, investment documents and gold, all worth several crores of rupees.

The four accused were booked by the CBI under the Prevention of Corruption of Act, dealing with inducing a public servant to accept bribe, criminal misconduct and payment of money.