SC wants CBI to probe DMAT scam in Madhya Pradesh

The Supreme Court on Friday said it would prefer the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a probe into the private dental and medical admission tests (DMAT) in Madhya Pradesh.

The Supreme Court on Friday said it would prefer the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a probe into the private dental and medical admission tests (DMAT) in Madhya Pradesh.

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India HL Dattu made this observation in response to the central agency’s reluctance to investigate the alleged irregularities in DMAT, conducted to fill management and Non Resident Indians (NRI) seats in medical colleges of the state.

The CBI has already started its investigation into the admission scam conducted by government body (Vyapam) through which the state quota in private medical colleges also get filled.

“Our tentative view is that if you are taking over the 50% of the probe (inquiring into the seats filled under the government quota), you must take over it by 100%,” the bench noted.

The Supreme Court asked the Madhya Pradesh government to file an affidavit placing its view on the two public interest litigation (PILs) asking for a CBI probe into DMAT.

There are 15 private dental colleges and six private medical colleges in Madhya Pradesh with nearly 2,800 seats for which the Association for Private Medical and Dental Colleges (APDMC) conducts DMAT every year. 42% seats fall under government quota, 43% seats are for the college management and remaining 15% go to NRIs.

CBI counsel, additional solicitor general Maninder Singh expressed difficulties such as the lack of manpower in taking over the probe. “It is humbly submitted that CBI is finding it extremely hard and almost impossible to cope with the extent of cases already being investigated, including Vyapam scam cases, due to scarcity of resources particularly human resources. CBI is already investigating more than 1,000 cases related to chit fund scam in several states,” the agency had said.

Recently, CBI had said that around 27% posts from inspector to additional SP level are vacant, making it impossible to take over the new cases.