TN Vels Medical College: DVAC conducts searches based on FIR against former health minister

An FIR is registered against the former Tamil Nadu health minister and AIADMK MLA C Vijayabasker for irregularities in the issuance of the Essentiality Certificate to Vels Medical College in Tiruvallur district in 2020.

Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) conducted searches at as many as 13 places on Tuesday based on an FIR registered against Tamil Nadu's former health minister and AIADMK MLA C Vijayabasker, alleging irregularities in the issuance of the Essentiality Certificate to Vels Medical College in Tiruvallur district in 2020.

The allegation is that the certificate was issued by influencing the team that inspected the college. The FIR also stated that the inspection team conspired with the former health minister to give a false report that said that the college fulfilled the norms of the National Medical Commission (NMC), as reported by Indian Express.

“The accused had performed a public duty dishonestly for obtaining undue advantage from Ganesh while Dr K Srinivasaraj intentionally created and furnished false documents/electronic records to the inspection team which obtained the Essentiality Certificate,” the FIR said.

The FIR also lists Ishari K Ganesh, trustee, VISTAS, K Srinivasaraj, dean of Vels Medical College and four doctors on the inspection team from Salem Mohan Kumaramangalam Government Medical College and Hospital, namely, then dean Dr R Balaji Nathan, Dr T M Manohar, professor of Orthopaedics, Dr J Sujatha, professor of Pathology and Dr J A Vasanthakumar, professor of Medicine. The houses of Dr Manohar, Dr Sujatha and Dr Vasanthakumar in Salem as well as premises linked to Vijayabasker were among those searched at Chennai, Salem, Madurai, Theni, Pudukkottai, Tiruvallur and Tambaram. 

Read more:

• NEET 2022 results: More students from Tamil Nadu cleared exam, pass percentage dips
• NEET 2022: TN Health Minister reiterates demand for neet exemption