Bangalore: PG Medical Entrance Test Scandal - Doctors, Toppers, Arrested
Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)
Bangalore, Oct 24: Director general of police (DGP) of Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Shankar Bidari, revealed that 17 persons including some doctors and top-tanking students, have been arrested in connection with their alleged role in medical entrance test irregularities.
They face charges of indulging in malpractices while appearing for the postgraduate medical degree entrance test at the centre located at Vijayanagara Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS), Bellary.
Bidari was addressing a press conference held at the office of the department in the city on Sunday October 23. He gave the names of the arrested accused as Hemant Rao (32), Dr Santosh (25), Krishnamurty (35), Dr Somashekhar (34), Dr P Murari (28), David Prabhakar (38), Mallikarjun Jogalekar (40), and Bharat Kumar (35). The names of the students arrested in connection with the scandal are, Dr Sankeert (25), Dr Firdous Sultan (28), Dr Bharati (39), Dr Suresh (25), Dr Abhijeet Patel (25), Dr K Basavaraj (35), Dr Vinod Kharge (26), and Dr Renuka (25). All these students had secured top tanks.
Some students, who grew suspicious over the fact that 11 ranks had gone to those who appeared for the entrance test at VIMS, had complained to the Lokayukta. The concerned found that answer sheets of many students who appeared from the same hall were identical.
A committee formed on the basis of the said complaint under the chairmanship of Dr Hanumanthaiah confirmed that irregularities had indeed taken place in the said entrance test. During the CID inquiry, it was found that the accused conducted illegal activities with a view to jack up their grades, with the help of digital technology. Bidari said that the personnel of the CID had succeeded in reaching the bottom of the scandal with the use of their tact and skills.
Main accused Dr Vinayak Prasanna has been accused of collecting huge sums of money from students seeking admission into postgraduate courses, by promising them merit-based seats from government quota. He used to send copies of the question papers with the help of digital camera, and provide answers to the students with the help of experts. Bidari said that the scandal involves crores of rupees.
In the meantime, main accused, Dr Vinayak Prasanna, has gone underground after securing bail from Dharwad circuit bench of the High Court. The CID personnel have launched a search to locate him. Those who provide clues about Dr Vinayak will be eligible to receive cash reward of one lac rupees, Bidari announced.