New Delhi, Jul 4 (PTI) — The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has executed searches at the residence and offices of Montu M Patel, the President of the Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), following allegations of corruption and irregular practices in the inspection and approval processes for pharmacy colleges, as reported by officials on Friday.
The operation was initiated post the findings of a preliminary enquiry (PE) which uncovered alleged corrupt practices, manipulative control, and irregular approvals granted to pharmacy colleges. Initially, accusations were raised against Patel regarding pre-election inducements and post-election nepotism.
The CBI, acting on a complaint from the Union health ministry secretary, delved into the methodologies by which pharmacy colleges achieved accreditation. This inquiry revealed deviations from established procedures and a notable lack of transparency.
Up until December 2022, inspections necessitated PCI teams to perform site visits and document their findings in standard reports. These documents, including compliance reports, were then considered by the Executive Committee (EC) for approval.
Allegedly, under Patel's leadership, significant procedural changes were made during the 391st EC meeting in 2023-24, abandoning physical inspections in favor of online Standard Inspection Format (SIF) applications and virtual inspections via video conferencing.
Applications for the approval process were solicited through a Google link from April 24 to May 5, 2023. Of the 908 applications received, 870 were shortlisted for online inspections.
These online inspections reportedly enabled corruption, with a notable example being the case of Rameshwar Prasad Satya Narayan Mahavidyalaya in Ayodhya. Despite a brief 8-minute online inspection on July 3, 2023, indicating the absence of a principal and inadequate infrastructure, the EC gave the institute five days to provide compliance via affidavit. Patel subsequently approved the D. Pharma course for this institute, despite negative feedback from inspectors, according to officials.
The college involved is said to be owned by Vinod Kumar Tiwari, who allegedly paid over Rs 10 lakh in cash and an additional Rs 95,000 through banking channels to Santosh Kumar Jha, a primary teacher, purportedly to "manage the inspection and obtain approval and arrange infrastructural facilities."
The CBI's visit confirmed the college was just a derelict building lacking faculty, infrastructure, or students. The agency pointed out deficiencies in 23 approved colleges across Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Rajasthan during Patel's tenure.
At least six colleges, including SSD College of Pharmacy, Gagan College of Pharmacy, Shanti Devi Jain Degree College, Heyward College of Pharmacy, Veer Shivaji College of Pharmacy, and Subhawati College of Pharmacy, were approved by the EC under Patel despite negative inspector reports, the CBI alleged.
"The facts during PE prima facie reveal that Montu Kumar Patel, in criminal conspiracy with unknown EC members, granted approvals for the said institutions in exchange for undue gains for himself or others," the FIR stated.
The agency highlighted manipulation within PCI operations, including an April 6, 2022 agenda meant solely for presidential elections, where Patel allegedly facilitated the election of Nilimenka Das as an EC member and six others as co-opted members. This move effectively allowed Patel to control the Executive Committee.
These co-opted members were reportedly given broad permissions to influence EC decisions, including college approvals, without voting on numerous EC decisions, reflecting portal access manipulations and irregular seat adjustments in pharmacy colleges.
The CBI noted electoral manipulation patterns preceding the PCI presidential election on April 6, 2022.
Allegedly, on April 2, 2022, four days before this crucial election, presidential candidate Patel booked 15 rooms at the Hotel Connaught, costing over Rs 2.75 lakh for lodging and hospitality from April 3 to April 6, 2022.
Patel and 12 other Central Council members, who were eligible voters in the April 6, 2022 election, stayed in these rooms, according to the PE.
The CBI implied this arrangement signified a deliberate attempt to sway voters or confer undue advantages as the election loomed, with Patel as a key candidate. PTI ABS DIV DIV
CBI Investigates PCI President Over Corruption Allegations
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