An investigation conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation has revealed that they have arrested retired Orissa High Court Judge I.M. Quddusi and four others in a corruption case.
Among those arrested are accused B.P. Yadav, Palash, alleged middleman Vishwanath Agarwala and “hawala operator” Ram Dev Saraswat. The accused will be produced before a city court.
The agency alleges to have seized Rs. 1 crore in cash from the middleman and Rs. 91 lakh more during the searches.
The agency has accused them of conspiring to settle in the Supreme Court, the case of a Lucknow-based medical institute that had been barred by the government from admitting students.
The case pertains to Prasad Institute of Medical Science of Prasad Education Trust that was one of the 46 colleges barred by the government from admitting students for one to two years, for non-fulfilment of set criteria.
It is alleged that accused B.P. Yadav and Palash conspired with Justice (Retd.) Quddusi, one Bhawana Pandey and others to get the issue resolved in the Trust’s favour.
They had met Justice (Retd.) Quddusi and Ms. Pandey through Sudhir Giri of Venkateshwara Medical College in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut, says the First Investigation Report (FIR) filed by the CBI.
The accused wanted relief from the government order dated August 10, which debarred the college from admitting fresh students for two years. It had also authorized the Medical Council of India (MCI) to encash the bank guarantee of Rs. 2 crore.
The Trust initially approached the Supreme Court against the order, withdrew it purportedly on Justice (Retd.) Quddusi’s advice and filed a petition in Allahabad High Court.
The High Court directed that the college not be struck off the list of institutions notified for counselling till August 31, the next date of hearing. An interim stay on encashment of bank guarantee was also given. However, the college was not allowed to admit fresh students.
The MCI contested the High Court order in the Supreme Court. That petition was disposed of on August 29, as the other side did not claim any benefit from the order.
Subsequently, the Trust filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court, Justice (Retd.) Quddusi and Ms. Pandey allegedly assured the Trust representatives that the matter would be settled in the Supreme Court through their contacts.
They engaged Biswanath Agrawala, a resident of Bhubaneswar, who allegedly claimed that he had close contacts with the relevant senior public functionaries and assured them that he would get the issue resolved in the Trust’s favour. He had allegedly demanded huge gratification for inducing the public servants concerned, alleges the CBI.
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