Ketan Desai’s election to university body challenged

GANDHINAGAR - The election of Ketan Desai, tainted former chief of the Medical Council of India (MCI), to the Gujarat University senate was Monday challenged in the Gujarat High Court.

Desai, facing a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe for corruption, was elected unopposed to the senate recently on the seat reserved for faculty of medicine.

The petition challenging his election was filed by Raghuvir Gadhiya, former senate member of the Gujarat University, through his lawyer Hitesh Dave.

Desai was arrested by the CBI April 22 for allegedly seeking bribe from officials of a medical college at Patiala in Punjab.

Gadhiya has sought cancellation of Desai’s candidature according to provisions of the Gujarat University rule that allows a senate member’s suspension for scandalous behaviour.

Desai was elected after the other contender to the post withdrew his candidature. By winning the senate seat, Desai managed to retain his membership of the executive council of the university.