Students’ plea for CBI probe into SRM medical seat scam dismissed

A division bench comprising Justice M Jaichandren and Justice S Baskaran on setting aside the plea that the probe by the City Crime Branch (CCB) is biased, said “On a perusal of the records available, this court is of the considered view that the apprehension expressed by the petitioners that no proper investigation would be done, by the CCB, is ill-founded.” 

Noting that nothing has been placed before this court to substantiate the allegations made by the petitioners to persuade this court to accept the same, the bench said “We are of the considered view that the claims made by the petitioners are devoid of merits and therefore they are dismissed.” 

However, on recording the submission of the additional public prosecutor that several persons, including Madan had been arrested and the SRM founder TR Pachamuthu was granted conditional bail on payment of Rs 75 crore, which relates to the amount paid by the students, the bench granted some relief to the students. The bench said “We find it appropriate to observe that it would be open to the petitioners to claim the amounts, said to have been paid by them, by showing sufficient proof, as may be necessary, before the appropriate forum, at the appropriate stage, in the manner known to law.” 

The petitioners, mostly parents of the candidates, who had applied for admission to MBBS and post graduate medical courses in SRM had contended that Madan had received huge amounts of money on instruction from Pachamuthu. But thereafter, an episode emerged with Madan going missing and they were neither provided the seat nor the money. On alleging that they have been kept in the dark on the fate of the case as well as the money paid by the them, they contended that the CCB probing the case was biased and therefore, it had raised numerous doubts, as to whether the investigation and the trial would be held in a free and fair manner.

The Madras High Court has summoned the Chairman, Tamil Nadu Medical Council (TNMC), to appear before it on December 2 to explain the steps being taken against doctors who violate the suspension order issued by TNMC. Justice N Kirubakaran summoned the chairman, on hearing a plea moved by Dr K Ramachandran of Neyveli that TNMC had suspended him by invoking section 23(2) of the PCPNDT Act without realising that the Repealing and Amending Act of 2016, had removed the provision for suspension during the pendency of the criminal case. TNMC had suspended Dr Ramachandran on February 17, 2016.  However, at the time of hearing, it was pointed out by G Sankaran, TNMC’s counsel that despite the suspension, he is still practicing. Also, with the judge raising a query as to whether any action has been taken against the doctor, the council submitted that as of now there is no power available.