Corruption in white coats: Ghost faculty, fake patients, and hawala cash fuel India’s medical college scam

A major corruption scandal has come to light with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filing a First Information Report (FIR) against 36 individuals in connection with widespread irregularities in the regulation and inspection of medical colleges across India.

Among those named is former University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman D P Singh, who currently holds the position of Chancellor at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), along with officials from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and several private medical college representatives.

The CBI investigation has revealed what it calls an "extensive criminal conspiracy" involving the unauthorized leaking of confidential regulatory information, manipulation of statutory inspections, and bribery to secure favorable outcomes for private institutions.

According to the FIR, data shared unlawfully included inspection schedules, names of assessors, and internal evaluations.

This allegedly allowed medical colleges to fabricate conditions during inspections by deploying ghost faculty, admitting fake patients, tampering with biometric attendance records, and bribing assessors for positive reports.

“Students must be encouraged to report any discomfort or harassment without hesitation,” the document states.

The FIR also accuses Health Ministry officials of photographing internal documents, including sensitive comments from senior bureaucrats, and transmitting them through personal devices to intermediaries working with private colleges.

Key individuals allegedly involved in the exchange or receipt of leaked information include Virendra Kumar from Gurgaon, Manisha Joshi of Dwarka in New Delhi, and well-known medical education figures such as Suresh Singh Bhadoria, chairman of Index Medical College in Indore, and Mayur Raval, registrar of Geetanjali University in Udaipur.

Virendra Kumar reportedly had close connections with Jitu Lal Meena, who was then serving as a whole-time member of the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB).

Meena allegedly accepted bribes via hawala transactions facilitated by Kumar, who is said to have distributed the money to influence regulatory outcomes.

Part of the illegal funds was allegedly used to construct a Hanuman temple in Rajasthan, at an estimated cost of ₹75 lakh.

The FIR further outlines a southern segment of the operation, allegedly headed by B Hari Prasad from Kadiri in Andhra Pradesh.

Working with associates Ankam Rambabu in Hyderabad and Krishna Kishore in Visakhapatnam, Prasad is accused of arranging dummy faculty and obtaining backdoor regulatory approvals in exchange for bribes.

The case continues to unfold as the CBI deepens its investigation into one of the most significant crackdowns on corruption in India’s medical education sector.