Govt orders probe into sale of seats at medical colleges

State medical education minister Vijaykumar Gavit, on Monday, announced a probe into the alleged medical admission racket in three medical colleges, also deemed universities, where seats were up for sale. The colleges are run some of Maharashtra's senior politicians.

State medical education minister Vijaykumar Gavit, on Monday, announced a probe into the alleged medical admission racket in three medical colleges, also deemed universities, where seats were up for sale. The colleges are run some of Maharashtra's senior politicians.

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Gavit's announcement came in response to corruption charges made by the leader of opposition Eknath Khadse, who submitted a CD of a sting operation, conducted by an aggrieved parent.

Khadse said that the sting operation had shown how MBBS seats were being sold for Rs20 lakh to Rs25 lakh, dental seats were being sold for Rs7 to Rs10 lakh, while rates for post graduation were around Rs50 to Rs70lakh.

"The CD shows honorary registrar of one college collecting money, it has shown an Officer on Special Duty to governor being involved. This is a huge racket," said Khadse.

The CD has shown meeting of an individual with agents, seeking admission to MBBS, PG seats in these colleges. In the case of one college, the CD has shown a senior staffer in the college promising MBBS seat for Rs22 lakh and even promising that it can be done cheaper in another college.

He admitted that there had been similar complaints about deemed universities and his department was drafting a law that would ensure control of the state over fees, admission process, entrance exams conducted by them.

Khadse had alleged that there was a Rs300-crore scam in just three medical colleges - DY Patil Medical College, MGM Medical College and Terna Medical College. He said there are seven other colleges in the state where such rackets were rampant.

Terna Medical College is controlled by senior NCP politician Padmasinha Patil, while MGM Medical College is controlled by former education minister Kamal Kishore Kadam. DY Patil Medical College is controlled and named after senior Congress politician and current governor of Tripura, DY Patil.