CBI names self-styled Godman, ex-UGC chief in NMC inspection bribery scam
Investigation
New Delhi: What began as routine inspections has now unravelled into what investigators describe as a sprawling scam- one where influential names, insider leaks, and hefty bribes allegedly helped substandard medical colleges secure approvals they may never have earned. At the centre of it all are officials from the Health Ministry and National Medical Commission (NMC), a former UGC chairman, and a self-styled godman, now under the scanner of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The agency recently filed an FIR naming 34 individuals, including officials from the Union Health Ministry and NMC, as well as representatives from several private medical colleges.
The investigation suggests that a group of eight Health Ministry officials operated a clandestine network from within, sharing confidential inspection details - including schedules and assessor identities - with intermediaries tied to colleges. These leaks allowed institutions to “prepare” for inspections, often by faking compliance: hiring ghost faculty, admitting dummy patients, and tampering with biometric records.
Among the high-profile names are Dr. D.P. Singh, former Chairman of the University Grants Commission and current Chancellor of Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Ravi Shankar Maharaj (also known as Rawatpura Sarkar), a self-styled godman and Chairman of Rawatpura Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Suresh Singh Bhadoria, Chairman of Index Medical College in Indore and Mayur Raval, Registrar of Gitanjali University.
According to the FIR, Ravi Shankar sought advance information about the inspection. Atul Kumar Tiwari, a director at the Rawatpura Institute, allegedly contacted Mayur Raval to illegally obtain this information. Raval reportedly demanded Rs 25–30 lakh and shared the inspection date and names of assessors.
The agency also claimed that Ravi Shankar contacted DP Singh to get a favourable report. “Singh delegated the task to one Suresh,” the CBI said
The FIR also highlights the involvement of Jitu Lal Meena, a former member of the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB), who allegedly accepted bribes that were later routed through hawala and banking channels. In one peculiar case, a portion of the funds - reportedly Rs 75 lakh - was even used to construct a temple in Rajasthan.
The scam’s scale spans six states, with over 40 medical colleges under the scanner for allegedly securing regulatory nods through manipulation. As legal proceedings begin under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the CBI continues to widen its investigation.
