Inside CBI’s List of 35: Health Ministry Officials and Inspectors Named in Medical Scam

On June 30, 2025, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a detailed FIR naming 35 individuals in a sprawling corruption scandal tied to the accreditation of substandard medical colleges. The accused include senior government officials, college directors, middlemen, assessors, and even a self‑styled godman.

According to the FIR, some public servants in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the National Medical Commission colluded with private individuals and institutions in a multi-state corruption racket, prompting raids at over 40 locations across Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi. The scam encompassed fake faculty, ghost inspections, leaked documents, and displaced students trusting inadequate institutions.

Key Individuals & Roles

1. Dr. Jitu Lal Meena, a former member of the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) of the National Medical Commission (NMC), is widely regarded as the central figure in the unfolding medical education scam. Previously serving as a Quality Assurance officer in Gujarat and later appointed as Joint Director at the National Health Authority, Dr. Meena was inducted into the NMC in 2022. According to the CBI FIR, he is accused of exploiting his regulatory authority by leaking confidential ministry files and approving an excessive number of postgraduate medical seats—reportedly over 1,400—in return for bribes.

These bribes, often running into crores per institution, were routed through hawala channels with the help of facilitators like Dr. Virendra Kumar and Shivam Pandey. One of the more sensational revelations in the case is the alleged use of ₹75 lakh of illicit funds to construct a Hanuman temple in Rajasthan, a move seen by investigators as part of a larger money laundering operation. Under Dr. Meena’s direction, colleges were provided with advance notice of inspections and assessor identities, enabling them to stage faculty, falsify patient presence, and manipulate biometric records. His role in institutionalizing corruption within India’s top medical regulatory body has placed him at the core of what is now considered one of the most far-reaching scandals in Indian medical education history.

2. Dr. Virendra Kumar emerged as a pivotal figure in the scam, acting as the chief operational link between private medical colleges and Dr. Jitu Lal Meena. Posing as a consultant, he orchestrated elaborate schemes involving dummy faculty placements, ghost inspections, and advance leaks of assessor schedules. His operations spanned across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and other southern states, where he collaborated with regional agents like Dr. Hari Prasad and Dr. Krishna Kishore. Dr. Kumar facilitated bribe collections—including ₹50 lakh from Gayatri Medical College—and routed the money to Dr. Meena through hawala networks via intermediaries like Shivam Pandey. Colleges under his purview often paid crores for fraudulent approvals and accreditations, benefiting from staged inspections and leaked internal NMC data. His strategic role in managing both logistics and money flow marked him as a central conspirator in the scandal.

3. Dr. B. Hari Prasad of Kadiri served as a key link for Dr. Virendra Kumar in South India. Working as a fixer for several private colleges, he was responsible for arranging dummy faculty during NMC inspections and securing Letters of Renewal in exchange for bribes. One of the major cases linked to him involves a ₹50 lakh payment from Gayatri Medical College, which was routed through hawala to Dr. Kumar. Along with Dr. Ankam Rambabu, he also handled regulatory affairs for Father Colombo Institute of Medical Sciences in Warangal, for which he was paid ₹66 lakh in two instalments. His role as Dr. Kumar’s main associate in the southern region was crucial in expanding the scam’s reach.

4. Dr. Krishna Kishore from Visakhapatnam was one of the key associates of Dr. Hari Prasad in the South. He allegedly collected a ₹50 lakh bribe from Gayatri Vidya Parishad Institute of Healthcare & Medical Technology in Visakhapatnam to help secure its NMC approval.

5. Dr. Ankam Rambabu from Hyderabad was another associate of Dr. B. Hari Prasad. He helped oversee regulatory affairs at Father Colombo Institute of Medical Sciences in Warangal, facilitated inspections, and received bribes in two instalments—₹20 lakh and ₹46 lakh.

6. Venkat, director of Gayatri Medical College, allegedly paid bribes to Dr. B. Hari Prasad and his associates to secure NMC approval. While reports differ on the exact amount—some citing ₹25 lakh and others ₹50 lakh—a portion was routed to Dr. Virendra Kumar through hawala channels.

7. Father Joseph Kommareddy, trustee of Father Colombo Institute of Medical Sciences in Warangal, was named in the CBI FIR for allegedly paying bribes to secure regulatory approvals. According to the FIR, he directly engaged with middlemen like Dr. Hari Prasad and Dr. Ankam Rambabu, paying them ₹66 lakh to help ensure inspections were manipulated to favor the college.

8. Indra Bali Mishra, widely known as “Guruji”, was named as a key conduit in the scam. The FIR alleges that he maintained direct contact with Dr. Jitu Lal Meena and acted on behalf of Dr. Virendra Kumar, helping route hefty bribes to influence inspections and approvals. His brother‑in‑law, Shivam Pandey, collected and delivered large amounts to Dr. Meena’s residence in Delhi, making Mishra a central figure in the money-laundering network.

9. Shivam Pandey of Noida is one of the primary intermediaries in the scam. Acting under the direction of his brother‑in‑law, Indra Bali Mishra, and in coordination with Dr. Virendra Kumar, Pandey collected multiple bribe payments and delivered them to Dr. Meena’s residence. His role as an intermediary made him central to the operation, ensuring bribes moved smoothly between the people involved.

10. Poonam Meena, a Director in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, is one of the central figures in the scam. According to the CBI, she instructed her staff officer, Piyush Malian, to gather confidential details about upcoming inspections and related expenses. She also shared internal notes and file notings through personal devices with middlemen, helping private colleges influence approvals. Besides leaking information, she was reportedly involved in tampering with backend documentation to ensure smooth approvals for these colleges.

11. Piyush Malian, a Section Officer working under Poonam Meena, acted on her instructions to collect advance information on NMC inspections and financial details. The CBI claims he photographed sensitive documents and passed them on to intermediaries, playing a major role in leaking internal files to benefit private colleges. He was also reportedly part of the team that manipulated backend records to favor certain colleges.

12. Dharamveer, an official with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, was allegedly part of the group responsible for photographing internal communications, including file notings and senior officers’ comments. These were passed to middlemen like Mayur Raval, helping private colleges manipulate inspection processes. He is also believed to have assisted in backend-level changes to ease college approvals.

13. Chandan Kumar was among the Health Ministry officials accused of leaking sensitive internal documents, ranging from inspection schedules to details of designated assessors to Suresh Bhadoria. The CBI alleges he shared these documents using personal devices, allowing colleges to prepare in advance for inspections.

14. Rahul Srivastav, one of the eight accused Health Ministry officials, allegedly shared inspection schedules and key details with representatives of private colleges ahead of time. In return, he received bribes routed through both formal and hawala channels, as per the CBI.

15. Deepak, also employed with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, was part of the core team leaking confidential inspection data. While his specific role isn’t detailed in the FIR, the CBI says he was involved in sharing sensitive materials that helped private colleges secure approvals.

16. Manisha is among the ministry employees accused of leaking confidential regulatory data during the medical college inspection process. As per CBI findings, she was allegedly involved in photographing internal documents and passing them along to intermediaries aligned with private medical colleges.

17. Anoop Jaiswal was named in the CBI FIR as part of the network of ministry officials accused of manipulating the inspection process. He allegedly helped leak internal documents and ensured that specific colleges received advance access to sensitive inspection data through unofficial means.

18. Dr. Manjappa CN, Head of Orthopedics at Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences, was part of the NMC inspection team for Shri Rawatpura Sarkar Institute. The CBI alleges that he coordinated a ₹55 lakh bribe ahead of the visit, instructing a Bengaluru-based associate to collect and distribute the money through hawala channels. He was arrested in Raipur on July 1 after a trap was laid by investigators. His role as the coordinator places him at the core of the bribery network.

19. Dr. Chaitra, a member of the NMC inspection team for Shri Rawatpura Sarkar Institute, allegedly received her share of the ₹55 lakh bribe through her husband’s account. She was arrested in Raipur on July 1, and ₹16.62 lakh was recovered from her residence. The arrest came after the CBI filed a case against the college and laid a trap to catch the inspection team.

20. Dr. P. Rajini Reddy, Superintendent of the Modern Government Maternity Hospital in Petlaburj, was part of the NMC inspection team that visited Shri Rawatpura Sarkar Institute of Medical Sciences and Research on June 30. She was present during the surprise CBI raid at the college and has been named as Accused No. 13 in the FIR filed by the agency.

21. Dr. Ashok Shelke, a member of the NMC inspection team for Shri Rawatpura Sarkar Institute, was allegedly involved in influencing the inspection report in the college’s favor. According to the CBI, he was part of the group that coordinated a ₹55 lakh bribe and was arrested in Raipur on July 1 during the trap operation.

22. Dr. Satish, a Bengaluru-based associate of Dr. Manjappa CN, collected the ₹55 lakh bribe through hawala operators and distributed it among the inspection team members as instructed. He was arrested on July 1, and the CBI recovered ₹38.38 lakh from his possession. His role in handling the bribe flow placed him at the center of the transaction chain.

23. Ravi Shankar Maharaj, aka Rawatpura Sarkar, a self-styled godman and chairman of Shri Rawatpura Sarkar Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, emerged as a prominent name in this scandal. According to the FIR, he secured advance information about the NMC inspection team and sought favorable reports by reaching out to influential figures like DP Singh, the former UGC chairman. Singh, in turn, delegated the task to intermediaries who ensured the inspection outcome was manipulated to benefit the college. The CBI’s investigation into this network led to the arrest of five NMC officials, all linked to the inspection and bribery at Shri Rawatpura Sarkar.

24. Atul Kumar Tiwari, director at the same institute, was identified as the primary contact managing the inspection team’s activities. Through intermediaries such as Mayur Rawal, he reportedly managed advanced leaks of inspection details to guarantee smooth approvals. So far, Tiwari is the only member of the group who has been arrested.

25. Laxminarayan Chandrakar, the college accountant at Shri Rawatpura Sarkar Institute, is believed to have played a significant role in managing the financial records tied to bribe transactions, helping cover up the bribe flow.

26. Atin Kundu, serving as the administrative officer at Shri Rawatpura Sarkar Institute, was involved in the college’s internal operations connected to the inspections, though details about his exact role remain limited.

27. Sanjay Shukla, a retired IFS officer and trustee of the Rawatpura Trust, played a key role in coordinating fake documents and arranging ghost faculty to secure fraudulent approvals. Formerly the head of the Chhattisgarh Forest Department and Chairman of the Real Estate Regulatory Authority, his deep administrative ties positioned him as an influential figure in the operation.

28. Mayur Raval, registrar at Geetanjali University, allegedly acted as a conduit between Health Ministry officials and private colleges. According to the CBI FIR, he demanded ₹25–30 lakh from Atul Kumar Tiwari, director of Shri Rawatputra Sarkar Institute, in exchange for leaking inspection dates and assessor names. Investigators believe Raval’s access to internal ministry contacts enabled him to pass on confidential information, making him a critical link in the scam network.

29. D.P. Singh, former UGC Chairman and current Chancellor of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, has emerged as a key behind-the-scenes player in the Rawatpura scam. Investigators allege he facilitated unauthorized access to confidential inspection data and helped secure favorable reports for the institute, making it easier for college officials to influence the outcome.

30. Suresh Singh Bhadoria, chairman of Index Medical College in Indore, allegedly played a crucial role in securing fake recognitions and renewals for multiple institutions. As per the CBI FIR, he charged ₹3–5 crore per college in exchange for favourable inspection reports. Bhadoria is believed to have used his links in the Central Health Ministry—particularly through officials like Chandan Kumar—to access confidential inspection details, including assessor names and visit schedules. To mislead NMC teams, he deployed temporary faculty and used artificial fingerprints to manipulate biometric attendance records. Investigators have also linked him to Rawatpura Sarkar’s network, placing him as a central facilitator in managing fraudulent medical approvals.

31. R. Randeep Nair, associated with Techinfi Solutions, played an important role in enabling private colleges to manipulate the NMC inspection process. According to the CBI, he used insider access to leak confidential inspection schedules and assessor names, approaching colleges like SIMSR (Gujarat), NCR Institute (Meerut), and Shyamlal Chandrasekhar Medical College (Khagaria). In return, he sought substantial bribes. His firm is also alleged to have provided technical support in preparing fake documents used during inspections. His dual role—as both a middleman and a facilitator of forged compliance—made him a crucial player in the larger scam network.

What's Next

As the CBI continues its investigation, over 30 individuals—from government officials and inspectors to college staff—have come under scrutiny. The case has revealed deep flaws in the system meant to regulate medical education, and more arrests and disclosures are likely in the days ahead.

(Rh/Pooja Bansal/MSM/SE)