Sardar Rajas Medical College Fraud case taken over by Enforcement Directorate

Bhubaneswar: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has taken over the investigation of fraud and finanncial irregularities at Sardar Rajas Medical College and Hospital (SRMCH) in Kalahandi district.

The medical college was embroiled in controversy following the accusations by Western Odisha Development Council (WODC) alleging that A Johnsel Raja, who was the managing trustee of Selvam Educational and Charitable Trust, which runs the medical college had committed fraud and risked future of hundreds of medical students.

Medical Dialogues has extensively reported about the case. It was alleged that he misappropriated the amount it received from the State government to complete infrastructural development for the smooth running of the medical facility.

Though the Selvam Educational and Charitable Trust had signed an MoU with Western Odisha Development Council (WODC) to establish a medical college at Jaring in Kalahandi, it ran away midway after allegedly collecting a huge sum of donations from the students.

As per the MoU, WODC had provided Rs 10 crore and 25 acres of government land to the Trust. Even after getting all the benefits from the government, the trust managed by Raja failed to complete infrastructural development for the smooth running of the hospital and medical college.

He obtained permission from Medical Council of India for admission in MBBS course for two academic years – 2013-14 & 2014-15 by producing forged documents, police officials had stated.

The MCI after finding the fraud had denied further permission for admission in 3rd Academic year in 2015-16.

Read Also: Pay Rs 2 crore or face consequences: SC to Sardar Rajas Medical College

Raja also allegedly collected money from 124 students as caution money, but he closed the medical college in the midway and disappeared. He allegedly misappropriated the total money collected from the students.

Odisha Government had filed an FIR against him at Junagarh police station in Kalahandi district in 2015. The WODC also lodged a complaint accusing him of violating the memorandum of understanding, fraudulent documentation and risking the future of hundreds of medical students, adds Pragativadi.

Read Also: All SRMCH students to be relocated to private medical colleges

Following these serious allegations, Rajaa had been arrested on July 26 last year from Nagercoil in Tamil Nadu. He was brought to Odisha by the EOW on transit remand and taken for production before the JMFC, Junagarh, Kalahandi.

Later, in September he was granted interim bail by SC on health grounds in lieu of two bail bonds of Rs 5 lakh each.

Read Also: Sardar Rajas Medical College Cheating Case: SC Grants Interim Bail To Prime Accused

Now, the Enforcement Directorate will probe the case. Official sources informed OdishaTV that the ED will conduct a detailed probe to ascertain how permission for admissions was obtained by the college authorities by forging documents.

Moreover, the ED is also likely to summon Raja, adds the daily.

The Directorate of Enforcement is a law enforcement agency and economic intelligence agency responsible for enforcing economic laws and fighting economic crime in India. It is part of the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, Government Of India