ED raids eight private medical institutes for ‘NRI quota anomalies’.
News Mania Desk / Piyal Chatterjee / 4th December 2024
As part of its nationwide operation, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided eight private medical colleges in West Bengal, alleging irregularities in the allocation of NRI quota seats.
On Tuesday morning, the central agency conducted simultaneous searches of these institutions as well as the owners’ homes. One of the investigation’s key targets is former Tamluk MP Lakshman Seth’s residence in Haldia. The ED is looking into his medical and dentistry college, which is administered by a volunteer organisation.
The ED’s investigation is focused on charges of corruption involving the NRI quota in medical admissions. Aside from West Bengal, the agency is undertaking searches at 28 private medical colleges across India. In this state, raids are taking place in Birbhum, West Burdwan, and Kolkata.
The probe focuses on charges of admitting ineligible students through the NRI quota in exchange for bribery while denying admission to qualified applicants. One of the medical institutes under investigation in Birbhum is run by Malay Peet, who is accused of cow smuggling and recruitment corruption in cases allegedly linked to TMC politician Anubrata Mandal.