ED Conducts Raids at Six Locations in West Bengal Over NRI Quota Medical Admission Irregularities
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Synopsis
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out raids at six locations in West Bengal linked to irregularities in NRI quota medical admissions. Investigations revealed that fake NRI certificates were allegedly used to secure admissions, leading to significant cash transactions. This continues a pattern of previous investigations into similar misconduct within the state's private medical education sector.
Key Takeaways
- ED raids target six locations in West Bengal.
- Focus on NRI quota admissions irregularities.
- Allegations of fake NRI certificates being used.
- Investigations linked to cash transactions.
- Prior raids conducted in December.
Kolkata, Feb 20 (NationPress) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) launched a series of raid and search operations on Thursday at six sites in West Bengal, primarily in the vicinity of the state capital, concerning irregularities in admissions to private medical colleges under the Non-Resident Indian (NRI) quota.
According to informed sources, these ED raids are a result of a specific complaint filed at a local police station located on the northern outskirts of Kolkata. The complaint alleged the use of fraudulent NRI certificates to secure admissions under the quota in various private medical colleges. Many candidates reportedly gained admissions under this quota despite not being actual NRIs.
Additionally, sources indicated that the ED officials are probing the situation based on credible information suggesting that these admission irregularities were facilitated through substantial cash transactions.
As of the time this report was compiled, the six locations where the ED officials were conducting raid and search operations included Kolkata along with the neighboring districts of South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas.
Each raiding team was accompanied by personnel from the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF). In total, eight private medical colleges in West Bengal are under the scrutiny of the ED.
This isn't the first instance of the ED carrying out such operations in West Bengal concerning this matter. In December of the previous year, the central agency executed similar raid and search operations at various locations throughout the state, including Salt Lake in the northern outskirts of Kolkata, the industrial hub of Haldia in East Midnapore district, Durgapur in West Burdwan, Budge Budge in South Parganas, and Birbhum, among others.
During that earlier operation in Haldia, the raids targeted the residence of former CPI(M) Lok Sabha member from Tamluk, Lakshman Seth, who manages an NGO that operates private medical and dental colleges in Haldia.
In Birbhum, the private medical college being investigated is owned by businessman Malay Pith, whose name initially emerged in connection with the multi-crore cattle smuggling scandal in West Bengal.
The issue of irregularities in medical admissions under the NRI quota was first brought to light by the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, in September of the previous year.
He alleged that numerous admissions involved significant irregularities accompanied by hefty cash transactions, which even included admissions facilitated by the presentation of forged certificates. Adhikari also implicated some senior officials associated with the state health department in this case.
