CBI arrests two Chandigarh doctors for admissions racket

CHANDIGARH - The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Tuesday arrested two doctors of the prestigious Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) here after the lid was blown off an organised admissions racket at the premier health institute.

CBI officials here said that the doctors, Amit Musale and Sujay Sonawane, were pursuing a post-graduation course at the PGIMER. The doctors had obtained admission to the course, one of the most sought after in the country, on the basis of impersonation and manipulation during the admission process.

CBI sources said that another person, who was running the admissions racket, was arrested by their counterparts in Mumbai.

“Anti-Corruption Branch of CBI, Chandigarh, has registered a case against two doctors pursuing their post-graduation at PGIMER and few other people on the allegation that these two doctors have procured admission in the post-graduation course on the basis of impersonation and manipulation,” CBI Deputy Inspector General Mahesh Aggarwal said.

The sources said that seats in the prestigious course were going for as high as Rs.80 lakh per student.

PGIMER authorities here, embarrassed by the startling disclosures, have offered to help the CBI investigations.

CBI sources said that several past admissions to the PGIMER could be investigated.

“These doctors obtained admission through organised racket assuring admissions in various private and government medical colleges by charging hefty amounts running into lakhs of rupees. The admissions to government colleges are procured by impersonation,” the CBI official said in a statement here.

“In such cases some brilliant student, part of the organized racket, appears in the entrance exam by impersonating the aspiring candidate. The two doctors pursuing post-graduation at PGIMER, Chandigarh were questioned by the CBI team. After questioning, these two doctors have been placed under arrest,” he added.

The CBI conducted raids Tuesday at several places, including Chandigarh and Mumbai, to find the roots and beneficiaries of the admission racket.

“A number of incriminating documents and other material have been seized pointing to the wide reach of this network. The aspiring candidates took admission on the basis of result of their impersonators,” the CBI official said.

Earlier September, the CBI had unearthed a racket of admissions in Punjab Engineering College here. These admissions were procured on the basis of fake and forged documents.