Vigilance begins probe into medical college scam

Thiruvananthapuram: An official probe began on Friday into an alleged medical college scam involving BJP leaders in the State.

“I gave the orders for a probe based on a complaint that I got. The probe begins today (Friday),” Kerala Police chief Loknath Behra told the media. Behra also heads the Vigilance Department.

The case pertains to a Rs 5.60 crore bribe allegedly paid by a privately managed medical college to Kerala-based BJP leaders for influencing the Medical Council of India (MCI). Since then, there has been another such allegation in northern Kerala.

BJP chief Kummanem Rajasekheran, while denying any links of the party with the alleged scam, on Thursday night expelled the party’s Cooperative Cell Convenor R.S. Vinod after his name surfaced in an internal committee report leaked to the media.

One of the leaders whose name figured in the report is Kerala General Secretary M.T. Ramesh, who has denied any involvement in the scam and said he was being targeted by vested interests.

Meanwhile, the BJP has cancelled Friday’s core committee meeting. Instead, a state committee meeting has been called for Saturday.