
India is grappling with the aftermath of what the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has described as "one of the country's biggest medical education scams." An investigation spread across the nation has revealed a network of bribery, manipulation of the regulatory process, and fake medical licensing involving more than 40 medical colleges, top officials, and a godman who had set himself up.
The scandal came to light in late June 2025 when a CBI sting operation in the Rawatpura Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in Raipur resulted in the arrest of six individuals. Among them were National Medical Commission (NMC) officials, who were caught red-handed taking a ₹55 lakh bribe. The payment was intended to help clear a favorable inspection and regulatory clearance for the college, according to the CBI.
But that was just the start. As the probe expanded, the CBI revealed a "full-fledged racket involving middlemen, NMC assessors, Health Ministry insiders, and private college heads" who cooperated to manipulate inspections. Secret schedules were leaked, dummy patients and faculty members were marched around, and inspection reports were prepared in advance—all for fat bribes.
The CBI FIR, registered on 30 June 2025, under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Prevention of Corruption Act, contains the names of 34 persons, including:
The FIR also charges many unidentified Union Health Ministry and NMC officials, middlemen, and private college officials.
"Key officials disclosed confidential inspection timetables, assessor information, and internal file notes to private medical colleges via a network of middlemen in exchange for bribes. These acts, undertaken for consideration of money and other criminal considerations, compromise the integrity of the regulative system and pose a risk to the quality of medical education and public health standards in the nation."
Following the scandal, the NMC has
The CBI has raided over 40 premises in six states, seizing crores of cash and documentary proof. The case is still under investigation, with further arrests and regulatory measures pending.
This case reveals the risks of uncontrolled corruption in the health industry, where payoffs and patronage can trump qualifications and protective measures. The CBI inquiry is a grim reminder of the importance of openness, transparency, and rigorous regulation in health education and licensure.