Kolkata, 16 May (H.S.):

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has uncovered a massive scam involving fraudulent admissions into medical colleges under the Non-Resident Indian (NRI) quota. In a major crackdown, the agency has seized ₹12.33 crore from the bank accounts of two individuals and four private medical colleges.

According to ED officials, the ongoing investigation has revealed that approximately ₹23.67 crore was collected fraudulently by misusing the NRI quota. Raids were conducted at multiple private medical colleges across West Bengal and Odisha, as well as at the residences and offices of college officials, agents, and associates. During these searches, the agency recovered forged documents, fake seals of American notaries, and counterfeit NRI certificates.

As per government regulations, only close relatives are eligible to act as NRI sponsors for medical admissions. However, the ED's probe has found that unknown individuals were falsely shown as sponsors using fabricated documents to secure admissions for students, in exchange for hefty bribes.

The agency further alleged that several private medical colleges were directly involved in the scam, colluding with agents to charge students exorbitant sums — ranging from ₹1 crore to ₹1.5 crore for MBBS admissions and ₹3 crore to ₹4 crore for MD or MS courses.

Sources in the ED revealed that medical colleges also paid large commissions to agents for producing the forged documents necessary for admission. The agency has indicated that further arrests and seizures are likely as the investigation progresses into one of the most widespread admission scams in recent years.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh